World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) 2025 is a global campaign supported by the United Nations (UN), observed biannually on the second Saturday of May and October, to raise awareness about challenges faced by migratory birds and encourage action to conserve their habitats.
WMBD 2025 falls on 10th May 2025 and 11th October 2025.
- WMBD 2024 was observed on 11th May 2024 and 12th October 2024.
- WMBD 2026 will be observed on 9th May 2026 and 10th October 2026.
Theme:
The theme of WMBD 2025 is “Shared Spaces: Creating Bird-Friendly Cities and Communities”, focusing on the need for healthy coexistence between humans and migratory birds.
Background:
i.The initiative began in the United States of America(USA) in 1993 as International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD), established by the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center, Washington, D.C., the USA.
ii.WMBD is organized through a partnership among the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA) and Environment for the Americas (EFTA).
iii.To mark AEWA’s 10th anniversary in 2005, Migratory Waterbird Days were held across Africa, Europe, and parts of Asia, focusing on the conservation of migratory waterbirds.
iv.The first official WMBD was celebrated on April 8–9, 2006, at the ‘Ol Ari Nyiro’ wildlife reserve in Laikipia, Kenya, hosted by conservationist Kuki Gallmann.
v.In 2023, the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP) joined the WMBD collaboration, enhancing efforts to protect migratory birds along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway.
Why May and October?
WMBD is celebrated in May and October to correspond with the migratory patterns of birds:
i.May Observance: In countries like the United States of America (USA) and Canada, WMBD is observed on the second Saturday of May, coinciding with the spring migration when birds travel to their breeding grounds in the Northern Hemisphere.
ii.October Observance: In nations such as Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean, the day is celebrated on the second Saturday of October, aligning with the autumn migration as birds return to their wintering areas in the Southern Hemisphere.
Importance of Insects for Migratory Birds:
i.Insects serve as an essential energy source for birds during their long migrations.
ii.Peak insect abundance aligns with bird migration, aiding in replenishing energy reserves for breeding or return journeys.
Key Threats to Migratory Birds:
According to the State of the Birds 2025 report by the U.S. Committee of the North American Bird Conservation Initiative (NABCI):
i.49% of global bird species are declining.
ii.Nearly 1 in 8 species is at risk of extinction.
iii.Over 1 billion birds die yearly from building collisions in the USA.
iv.186,000 birds are killed annually in Korea due to transparent noise barriers.
v.In Canada, cats are estimated to kill 100 to 350 million birds per year.
vi.Urban-related causes such as collisions, artificial lighting, and free-roaming cats lead to millions of bird deaths annually in countries like the USA, Germany, Republic of Korea, Canada, and Australia.
2025 Poster:
The 2025 WMBD poster, illustrated by Annamaria Savarino Drago of Mexico, highlights birds that rely on safe urban spaces, and subtly showcases various ways individuals and communities can help create bird-friendly cities and communities, inviting viewers to look closely and discover these actions within the artwork.
