International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD) is Saturday, May 12th. The theme this year is “Birds in a Changing Climate”. This is a topic that seems to always be in the news and always seems to bring up debate, disagreement, and despair. Instead of focusing on doom & gloom, IMBD does a great job of promoting wonderful ideas and projects that are great for conservation and educating people about birds and their habitats.
IMBD promotes the use of bird banding to get people involved in birds and conservation. Bird banding is perhaps the single best way to grab someone’s interest into birds. It was bird banding that got me hooked on birding when I was 6 or so and provides close-up views of birds that non-birders might not see otherwise. How can you not be hooked after holding a little golden sprite like the Prothonotary Warbler?
IMBD and Partners In Flight have teamed up to form the “Redstarts” for the World Series of Birding. This team is unique because it has members from not only the U.S. but also Canada and Latin America. What a truly wonderful way to promote how migratory birds need a team effort to ensure their conservation!
We’ll be spending IMBD at Horicon Marsh in Wisconsin, a place we visit every year.
We are taking a bird trip for International Migratory Bird Day! Should be a good time!