World Migratory Bird Day 2011 - coming soon

Greetings Everyone:

World Migratory Bird Day 2011 will soon be upon us. If you are not already planning to celebrate, see below the message from our colleagues at AEWA (African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement) and CMS (Convention on Migratory Species).

Best wishes, Sandra Hails, Ramsar Secretariat
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World Migratory Bird Day 2011 is coming up soon! So far for 2011, we have 42 event registrations from 25 countries and are expecting many more in the coming weeks. However, we will need your help if we wish to break the record of 150 registered events set by the 2009 campaign!

This year’s theme for World Migratory Bird Day is “Land use changes from a bird’s-eye view”. We want to raise awareness on the dramatic effects human land use has on migratory birds and the ecosystems upon which they depend. Many aspects of human land use are extremely damaging to the birds’ habitats.

For example, urbanization and intensive agriculture can fragment and replace complex networks of habitats needed by the birds. Deforestation and mineral extraction can damage entire regions used along the birds’ annual migration paths. In addition, land reclamation and biofuel production remove or degrade crucial wetlands and other habitats for many migratory bird species.

Please join others around the world and take part in World Migratory Bird Day on the weekend of 14 -15 May 2011 by organizing birdwatching events, educational programmes, lectures, art exhibitions and other public activities.

Your WMBD event can be as large or as small as you like. Please share your activities with us by registering your event on the WMBD website and we will send you WMBD 2011 posters and other materials to help you promote your event!

However you decide to participate, your contribution will help make this campaign a great success.

For more information please visit:www.worldmigratorybirdday.org

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