World Migratory Bird Day 2019 observed

The World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) 2019 is being observed on 11 May 2019. Every year people across the globe take action and organize public events like bird festivals, exhibitions, education programmes, and bird-watching excursions to celebrate WMBD.

About WMBD

The first WMBD was celebrated in 2006. It is an annual awareness-raising campaign which highlights the need for protecting migratory birds and their habitats.

Function: It helps to raise global awareness about threats faced by migratory birds, their ecological importance, and need for international cooperation to conserve them.

Observance: Starting from 2018, the WMBD is celebrated twice a year, second Saturday in May and in October.

It is Organized By: The Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), the African-Eurasian Waterbird Agreement (AEWA) together with Environment for the Americas (EFTA)

The CMS and AEWA are two International Wildlife Treaties which are administered by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

WMBD 2019

For year 2019 it will be celebrated on 11 May and 12 October.

The WMBD 2019 is observed with Theme:“Protect Birds: Be the Solution to Plastic Pollution!”. It aims to put spotlight on negative impact of plastic pollution on migratory birds and their habitats.

Birds are globally threatened by Plastic Watse: Study recorded that out of 265 bird species found entangled in plastic litter, at least 69 species were freshwater birds (10% of all freshwater species), 147 species were seabirds (36% of all seabird species), and 49 landbird species (0.5 per cent).

Month: Current Affairs - May, 2019