World Migratory Bird Day

Watch the Joint video message by:  Amy Fraenkel, Executive Secretary of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) .  Jacques Trouvilliez, Executive Secretary of the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) . Susan Bonfield, Director of the Environment for the Americas (EFTA) .  Jennifer George, Chief Executive of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP) .  

Statement by Mr. Ibrahim Thiaw, Executive Secretary of the Secretariat of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) .

Statement by Dr. Musonda Mumba, Secretary General of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

The White Stork migrates from northern Europe to central Africa. It lives near slow-moving streams, ponds, and lakes, where it hunts a variety of prey, including insects, lizards, fish, birds, small rodents, and marsupials. During the breeding season, White Storks build large, wide nests using branches, grass, and vegetation . These nests are typically located in high places such as treetops, rooftops, schools, houses, or even on utility poles and communication towers . However, this puts them at risk of electrocution or injury from collisions with wires . In areas near rural or urban settings, they may mistakenly eat harmful waste like rubber bands or poisoned animals, especially near landfills or polluted streams, which can be fatal.

The Greylag Goose breeds in high mountain meadows across northern Western Europe and Siberia, migrating south to the Mediterranean, southern China, and eastern Asia during winter. It often uses agricultural fields like corn, sugarcane, or cereal crops, where it forms large, noisy flocks that can cause significant economic losses. Primarily vegetarian, it prefers wet grasslands rich in small tubers, seeds from floating pods, and soft plant parts . However, its stopover, breeding, and wintering sites are increasingly threatened by habitat loss , dredging of water bodies, and land conversion for monoculture farming or recreational use.

The Common Crane is a large bird with an impressive wingspan . Its migration patterns can be tracked by radar and even from aircraft, as they travel from breeding areas in northern Europe to as far south as Ethiopia. During migration, they mainly use rural areas like meadows, flooded grasslands, and permanent lakes . However, they can also be spotted in artificial ponds, sports fields, and open urban parks where they rest. Hunting is a concern where large flocks are targeted due to the crop damage they can cause. In agricultural areas and cities, Common Cranes are also at risk of collisions with power lines or wind turbines.

The Peregrine Falcon is the fastest bird in the world , reaching speeds of up to 380 km/h during flight. Known for its long migrations, this raptor has also adapted to urban environments, successfully nesting on man-made structures like skyscrapers, bridges, and nest boxes . In cities, it uses artificial light from stadiums, streets, and shopping malls to hunt at night. While typically considered a daytime hunter, peregrine falcons are often seen hunting in the early morning or late evening in brightly lit urban areas.

The Red Knot is a migratory shorebird that travels long distances, moving between wetlands, coastal areas, and marshes from the Canadian Arctic all the way to Tierra del Fuego in South America, including the Caribbean. The subspecies of Red Knot (piersmai and rogersi) migrate along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway . It feeds on hard-shelled mollusks and other soft invertebrates like shrimp, crabs, marine worms, and horseshoe crab eggs. However, global coastal development is threatening the stopover sites these birds rely on during migration. Tourist developments, oil spills, plastic pollution, and rising sea levels are all impacting the quality of these critical habitats.

The American Robin is known for its melodious and complex daytime songs. These birds thrive in both urban and rural environments, often nesting in the undergrowth in parks, gardens, or even in spaces between houses and buildings . However, they are particularly vulnerable to domestic cats, as they forage for seeds, fruits, and insects on the ground. According to the Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation (AIWC) , American Robins are 10% of all of the birds admitted for re-habiliation during the summer. 31% are brought in after being caught by a domestic cat. To treat a bird after it has been bitten by a cat can require antibiotics for up to 14 days, due to the bacteria that is transferred in cat saliva. The cost can be $100 or more for each bird. A study of 41 free-roaming cats in Kansas showed that 83% killed wild birds, including declawed cats. There are over 77 million pet cats in the United States alone, and about 35% are kept indoors. This leaves millions of cats outdoors an...

The Giant Hummingbird , the largest hummingbird in the world , is a migratory species that travels across various altitudes, habitats, and communities in the Andes Mountains from Ecuador to Chile. It primarily feeds on flowers from the Puya genus but also relies on Salvia species, columnar cacti, and garden flowers such as Fuchsia. Additionally, it feeds on introduced plants like Malva shrubs and Eucalyptus trees. To supplement its diet, it hunts small flying insects and visits artificial feeders.

The American Redstar t, a Nearctic-Neotropical migratory bird, is known for its agile insect hunting and striking plumage, especially in adult males with black and bright orange coloring. These birds adapt to various habitats, including agroforestry systems, mangrove forests in the Caribbean, and urban green spaces during migration or winter. However, they face threats like window collisions and predation by domestic cats.

Once one of the most common birds in the Palearctic, the Yellow-breasted Bunting is known for its bright golden feathers and melodious songs. It breeds across northern Eurasia and migrates to Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent during winter. However, since the 1980s, its population has plummeted by 80%, according to 2017 surveys. Its conservation status has worsened from Vulnerable in 2013 to Critically Endangered in 2017. Every year, over 1,000,000 of these birds are killed illegally and cooked as food or sold as ornaments. Habitat loss due to agricultural expansion in key areas has further added to the decline.