October 12
International Migratory Bird Day
In 1993, the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center created International Migratory Bird Day. This educational campaign focused on the Western Hemisphere and has been coordinated since 2007 by Environment for the Americas (EFTA), a non-profit organization that works to connect people with bird conservation. It always takes place on the second Saturday in May and October.
The World Migratory Bird Day is an annual campaign that highlights the need for the protection of migratory birds and their habitats. The 2023 campaign focuses on the importance of water for migratory birds and the threats they face due to the increasing human demand for water, pollution, and climate change. Migration is a seasonal journey that birds undertake between their breeding and wintering grounds, with different species migrating different distances. Birds use various navigational cues, such as the Earth's magnetic field, olfactory perception, visual elements, and the position of the sun and stars. The study of bird migration has been facilitated by methods such as ringing and the use of telemetry devices. However, many questions about bird migration remain unanswered.
