World Migratory Bird Day 2021, 8-9 May

 

FORUM: Sing, Fly, Soar; Like A Bird.

Every year, the Arctic tern migrates from the Arctic Circle to the Antarctic Circle, one of the longest annual migrations of any animal on Earth. But today this dainty bird is threatened by our triple planetary crises of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution and waste.

World Migratory Bird Day on May 8 offers a chance to reflect on the threats to the Arctic Tern and other migratory birds and resolve to do better to protect the habitats they depend on.

“Climate change is changing and disturbing the migratory patterns of birds. The destruction of the natural world threatens these pollinators, critical for food security and well-being. And pollution whether in water bodies, land or air, is proving toxic for migratory birds,” says Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UNEP.

In the case of the Arctic Tern, the warming of the oceans in its traditional nesting grounds in the Northern Atlantic is the problem. Around 250,000 tern couples nest in Iceland each year but this number is decreasing, says Guðmundur A. Guðmundsson, Animal Ecologist at the Icelandic Institute of Natural History. He says the problem is the collapse of sand eel stocks in the seas around Iceland.

“A very likely cause is the warming of the ocean. The young sand eels are threatened by the early blooming of algae – too early for them,“ he explains.

This year, World Migratory Bird Day will focus on “bird song” and “bird flight” to inspire and connect people of all ages in a global effort to protect birds and the habitats they need to survive. It’s a particularly apt message ahead of the official launch of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration on World Environment Day on June 5.

Learn more about the amazing Arctic Tern and the threats facing this incredible bird here. Check out the important work of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals here.

CAMPAIGN: Want to get involved in World Migratory Bird Day? There are loads of ideas of what you can do here , Join in with the hashtags #WMBD2021 #WorldMigratoryBirdDay #SingFlySoar #LikeABird #ForNature on your social media

Raise Your Voice for Bird Conservation!

The theme of World Migratory Bird Day 2021 is unique in that it directly appeals to people of all ages to express themselves, to use their own human voice and creativity to show their appreciation and support for birds and international bird conservation. We encourage all participants to use World Migratory Bird Day as an opportunity to express their support for bird conservation and to highlight what they are doing in support of migrator birds.

Be Creative!

Linking human song with the song of birds opens a huge spectrum of creative possibilities which can be universally applied across borders in many countries around the world. Ideas range from tapping into existing popular songs dedicated to birds from all corners of the world, to activating people in different countries to “speak up” and to actually sing for birds, i.e. to “sing like a bird - for migratory birds” in their own language.

SING and FLY #LikeABird!

In order for this to become a truly global “wave of human creativity and expression” for birds and nature, people should record and share their bird inspired songs (or other forms of creative expression!) on social media using the following hashtags #SingFlySoar #LikeABird.

Another possible activation path for the “#LikeABird campaign”, could be to invite nature photographers and film makers to share their best “birds in flight” videos and photos.

Similar to the “act of singing” one could also go a step further and link bird flight with actual human flight, looking at everything from sky diving, hang gliding, paragliding and other activities which are associated with a form of aerial adventure.   Participants are encouraged to share their “in flight” photos and videos via social media using the hashtags Sing Fly Soar; Like A Bird.