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Satellite Tracking of Lesser Flamingos : A Training Workshop in Senegal

Installation of satellite tags on captured Lesser Flamingos © all photos: Direction des Parc Nationaux, Senegal

A training workshop on satellite tagging and satellite telemetry monitoring of Lesser Flamingos (Phoeniconaias minor) took place at the Djoudj National Bird Park (PNOD) in Senegal from 2 to 5 December 2021. Hosted by the government of Senegal, the 4-day training was jointly organized by the Senegal National Parks Directorate (DPN), the Mauritanian Directorate for the Protection and Restoration of Species and the  Environment (DPREM), the UNEP/AEWA Secretariat and the Tour du Valat research institute.

14 December 2021

World Migratory Bird Day 2022 Theme to Focus on Light Pollution

Light pollution is a significant threat to migratory birds

Light Pollution will be the focus of the World Migratory Bird Day 2022 campaign.  Artificial light is increasing globally by at least 2 per cent per year and it is known to adversely affect many bird species. Light pollution is a significant threat to migratory birds, causing disorientation when they fly at night, leading to collisions with buildings, perturbing their internal clocks, or interfering with their ability to undertake long-distance migrations.  

09 December 2021

New Study: Most African Wetlands Used by Migratory Birds to be Degraded by Climate Change

New study reveals that 87% of the Critical Sites in Africa are predicted to become less suitable for waterbirds by 2050. © pxhere.com

As much as 87% of the Critical Sites in Africa are predicted to become less suitable for waterbirds by 2050 because of the impact of climate change. These are the findings of a new study by a group of international experts published in Global Change Biology. The research – coordinated by Wetlands International – was supported by the African-Eurasian Waterbirds Agreement (AEWA) and funded by the International Climate Initiative (ICI) of Germany.

25 November 2021

Sing, Fly, Soar – Like a Bird!

“Sing, Fly, Soar – Like a Bird!” is the theme of this year’s World Migratory Bird Day © Sara Wolman

“Sing, Fly, Soar – Like a Bird!” is the theme of this year’s World Migratory Bird Day, an annual global campaign dedicated to raising awareness of migratory birds and the need for international cooperation to conserve them. This year the campaign will focus on the phenomena of “bird song” and “bird flight” as a way to inspire and connect people of all ages around the world in their shared desire to celebrate migratory birds and to unite in a common, global effort to protect birds and the habitats they need to survive. 

29 September 2021

8th Session of the Meeting of the Parties to AEWA (MOP8) Postponed to 2022

The city of Budapest © pixabay.com

The 8th Session of the Meeting of the Parties to AEWA (MOP8) will be postponed to 2022, as recently decided by the AEWA Standing Committee. MOP8 was scheduled to take place on 5 – 9 October 2021 in the framework of the ‘One with Nature’ exhibition in Budapest at the kind invitation of the Government of Hungary. The dates and venue had been confirmed by the Standing Committee at its extraordinary meeting on 28 July 2021.

19 August 2021

Lead Poisoning in Waterfowl: 30 Years of Progress but there Is still Work to Do!

An estimated one million waterbirds fall victim every year to lead poisoning after consuming spent shot.

Thirty years ago, on 13 June 1991, a major international meeting convened to address how to eliminate the poisoning of waterbirds with toxic lead gunshot.  Shot is deposited on the ground whenever it is used and subsequently kills when it is consumed by waterbirds.  The conference was organised by the International Waterbirds and Wetlands Research Bureau (now Wetlands International) and its aim was to review the extent of the problems of lead poisoning throughout the world and identify possible solutions. 

14 June 2021

World Migratory Bird Day Celebrated Globally on 8 May

“Sing, Fly, Soar – Like a Bird!” was the theme of this year’s World Migratory Bird Day © Sara Wolman

On 8 May 2021, people all over the world celebrated the first peak day of World Migratory Bird Day 2021, a global campaign which aims to raise awareness of migratory birds and the need for international cooperation to conserve them. The campaign was prominently featured on the UN Website in all UN languages on the day and received record-breaking social media coverage around the world. 

17 May 2021

AEWA Standing Committee Meetings Pave Way for MOP8

Participants attending the 16th Meeting of the AEWA Standing Committee © Florian Keil

The 16th Meeting of the AEWA Standing Committee (StC) took place from 4 to 6 May and was held in a completely virtual format due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the request of the Standing Committee an extraordinary Meeting of the Standing Committee was held on 30 June 2021 and another meeting is planned for end of July. 

06 May 2021

Study Predicts Climate Change Impact on African-Eurasian Waterbirds

The Red-knobbed Coot is one of the species that is exposed to the effects of climate change. © Derek Keats

A new study carried out by an international team of experts suggests that migratory waterbirds which use the African-Eurasian Flyways are particularly exposed to the effects of climate change in Africa and at their breeding areas in the High Arctic.  The research paper published in the journal Bird Conservation International (BCI) is based on modelling of climatic and hydrological conditions under current and future climate scenarios (in 2050) and compares the impact of climate change on the distribution of 197 of the 255 waterbird species listed under the African-Eurasian Waterbird Agreement (AEWA).

30 April 2021

Sing, Fly, Soar – Like a Bird!

“Sing, Fly, Soar – Like a Bird!” is the theme of this year’s World Migratory Bird Day © Sara Wolman

“Sing, Fly, Soar – Like a Bird!” is the theme of this year’s World Migratory Bird Day, an annual global campaign dedicated to raising awareness of migratory birds and the need for international cooperation to conserve them. This year the campaign will focus on the phenomena of “bird song” and “bird flight” as a way to inspire and connect people of all ages around the world in their shared desire to celebrate migratory birds and to unite in a common, global effort to protect birds and the habitats they need to survive.

15 April 2021