International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD) celebrates the incredible journeys of migratory birds, and reminds us about the habitats they depend on and the people (that would be you and me) who are critical to enabling birds and their habitats to survive.
IMBD is officially celebrated on the second Saturday in May in the US and Canada. (Yes, I should’ve written this blog entry sooner -- but I was too busy birding. After all, it’s spring migration time!) Organizations and individuals host festivals, programs and other events across the continent at and around this time.
In Mexico and throughout Latin America, as well as in the Caribbean, IMBD is celebrated in the fall, when the migratory birds have returned to their “winter” homes in these areas. So no matter where you live in the Western Hemisphere you have an opportunity to celebrate and support the birds (and people, too).
IMBD 2008
Perhaps some fellow Eons birders found themselves at an IMBD event this past weekend? I managed to blunder into one as I was counting shorebirds on my International Shorebird Survey route, which happens to include the lovely property on which Maine Audubon’s headquarters is located. Lo and behold, there was a party goin’ on!
Too bad we didn’t have little hats and favors for the guests of honor, like the Greater Yellowlegs and Spotted Sandpipers I saw along the estuary. They’d come a long way, after all. I couldn’t wondering whether they might be some of the same individuals of those species we saw on Saint John, USVI this past winter. It’s remotely possible. Besides, given the drama and risk inherent in every long-distant migrant’s journey, who am I not to play the odds?
The theme of IMBD 2008, “From Tundra to Tropics,” gives each of us a wonderful opportunity to acknowledge and appreciate the important bird nesting areas, resting or “stopover” habitats or winter homes right in and around our own yards. As you’re out and about, I invite you to take a moment to look at the landscape and give thanks in your own way for the Earth and the birds.
Our Sponsor
Environment for the Americas, sponsors if IMBD, is a non-profit working to increase awareness of birds and their conservation throughout the Western Hemisphere. You can check them out through their online home at: view link
These are the folks who provide the framework of promotions, ideas, and motivational/educational materials for IBMD festivals and events. Environment for the Americas also offers workshops for teachers and hosts a directory of bird education resources.
One of primary goals of Environment for the Americas, which I can totally relate to in my own life and work, is simply to motivate people of all ages everywhere to get outside and check out some birds! Once you connect more deeply with the birds you’ll find lots of ways to help them out -- and to see more of them, more often, in more places! Birdwatching isn’t just about watching birds; it’s also about supporting birds to survive in an increasingly altered, fragmented, polluted and warming landscape.
How it got started
IMBD was first started in 1993 by birders and conservationists at the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center and Cornell Lab of Ornithology, who recognized before many of us that saving birds would take more than saving habitat in just one country.
Originally the US Fish & Wildlife Service and the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation directed the IMBD, but as the program grew in popularity it became the primary educational project of Environment for the Americas, a non-profit created specifically to support the event on an ongoing basis. Today, “Bird Day” is celebrated in the US, Canada, Mexico, and Central and South America through bird festivals, bird walks, bird counts and censuses, and educational/awareness programs.
The theme goes on
A big part of what makes IMBD so popular is its changing theme and signature, theme-related artwork. Each year, the IMBD sponsors put their heads together to come up with a new theme that is up-to-date, conservation-based, positive, and engaging. Once chosen, this theme becomes the focus of educational materials -- and the art that’s featured on the annual t-shirt and poster.
This year’s theme, as I mentioned, is “From Tundra to Tropics.” Here’s a link to the 2008 poster: view link
And here’s a link to the very groovy 2008 t-shirts (what organization doesn’t have t-shirts?): view link
There’s also hats, stickers, tattoos, videos, and lots of other fun stuff at the Store on the website. And if you’re thinking of hosting an event there are presentations in English and Spanish as well as press kits, promo materials, ideas for kids’ activities, and many more materials to support your event.
Even though IMBD has just gone by for 2008 here in the US, it’s not too late to support the organization -- and the birds and birders -- by purchasing a poster or starting to plan an event for next year (or for this fall if you’ll be “south of the border” then).
In fact, since IMBD is hemisphere-wide, there is no specific month/day information printed on any of the festival materials -- just the year and the theme. So why not make every day International Migratory Bird Day? After all, bird migration never stops: somewhere in our hemisphere, in every month of the year, birds are migrating.
Peace and good birding,
Scott Cronenweth
Eons birding mentor
www.naturalpathwalks.com
