Launched in Kenya in 2006, World Migratory Bird Day has become a flagship campaign for the African-Eurasian Waterbird Agreement.

Initially conceived as a day for migratory waterbirds in the African-Eurasian Flyway, it quickly grew into a campaign to raise awareness for all migratory birds along all the world’s major flyways.

Over the years it has also grown into a global celebration of migratory birds and into a UN-backed campaign that clearly underlines the importance of international cooperation to conserve them.

As Executive Secretary of AEWA, I am proud to be able to say that World Migratory Bird Day has today become an established commemorative day in the global environmental calendar.

An international day that is unique as it is celebrated on two peak days each year: the second Saturday in May and October – to reflect the cyclical nature of bird migration. The two peak days also gives more people in both the northern and southern hemispheres the chance to celebrate migratory birds when the birds are actually around.

Each year, we choose a central theme for World Migratory Bird Day. This year the theme is “Protect insects, protect birds” – highlighting the vital role insects play for migratory birds.

Insects are key to the survival of many migratory birds. These include some waterbirds such as the Northern Bald Ibis and the Sociable Lapwing – both AEWA species that are also featured on the global World Migratory Bird Day poster this year.

As an important source of food, insects offer rich nutrients crucial for the survival of these birds, which rely on them when they are nurturing their young, but also at other stages of their lifecycle, during migration in particular.

The success of bird migration often hinges upon the presence and abundance of insects. During stopovers along migration routes and at breeding and non-breeding areas, birds tirelessly forage for insects in diverse habitats. In doing so, they are ensuring that they have the energy needed to continue their journeys.

As AEWA, we are delighted to be working closely with the Convention on Migratory Species and the Environment for the Americas and the East Asian-Australasian Partnership Secretariat to organize this global campaign. And as we have done in the past, we have again chosen a very timely theme.

We are also pleased to see that many of our partner organizations are becoming more involved and actively taking advantage of World Migratory Bird Day to highlight the important work they are doing for the protection of birds and their habitats in different parts of the world.

Thank you for your support and thank you for joining the global celebration of birds, as ambassadors of nature, on the occasion of World Migratory Bird Day!