World Migratory Bird Day 2022; May 14th.

FORUM: "Dim the lights for birds at night." World Migratory Bird Day 2022.

Light Pollution will be the focus of the World Migratory Bird Day 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.

 

Solutions to light pollution are readily available. For instance, more and more cities in the world are taking measures to dim building lights during migration phases in spring and autumn. Best practice guidelines are also being developed under the Convention on Migratory Species to address this growing issue and ensure that action is taken globally to help birds migrate safely.

EVENTS

Every Word Migratory Bird Day event is unique and as diverse and creative as the people and organizations involved. United by a common theme and campaign, #WorldMigratoryBirdDay events
take place in all corners of the world and involve and inspire thousands of people of all ages and backgrounds. While events are usually organized on one of the two peak days of World Migratory Bird Day, events can be linked to World Migratory Bird Day throughout the year.

There are really no limits on creativity! A successful World Migratory Bird Day event often gets people outside, engages them in learning about birds and habitats, and equips them to take conservation action. WMBD events usually promote the conservation theme, contribute to raising awareness or
encourage people to take action. 

This year’s event could highlight the impact of light pollution by including night-time bird walks and other evening programs focusing on nocturnal bird migration as well as citizen science projects and other dark-sky-themed activities.  The 2022 World Migratory Bird Day can also be used as an occasion to highlight any actions already being taken to address the issue of #lightpollution within your government, city or community. These actions could be changes in policy or a concrete future commitment which could be announced.

ACTIVITIES: Past activities and awareness-raising events have included birdwatching tours, educational workshops and exhibitions, webinars, festivals, and painting competitions, which have been organized at schools, parks, town halls, education centers, and nature reserves. 

World Migratory Bird Day is an annual awareness-raising campaign highlighting the need for the conservation of migratory birds and their habitats. It has a global outreach and is an effective tool to help raise global awareness of the threats faced by migratory birds, their ecological importance, and the need for international cooperation to conserve them.