Although Migratory Bird Day is celebrated in May in the U.S and Canada it is celebrated in October in Mexico, Central America, South America and the Caribbean and as birds know no human borders and are currently migrating from varies places in North America I thought it would be wonderful to celebrate our travelling feathered friends as they enrich us with their presence.
Bird migration occurs all over the world so is a truly global event at many times of the year. It is driven mainly by seasonal food depletion and nesting opportunities. Birds of all sizes and from many different habitats migrate from the far reaches of the Northern and Southern Hemisphere to all points in between.
Many of them travel astounding distances and end up landing in exactly the same location year after year using the sun, the stars and the earths magnetic field as navigational tools,
Stopping along the way to rest and recuperate many are finding their resting areas are being eroded by human activities such as development and recreational activities causing habitat loss and fragmentation. Harmful pollutants along with noise pollution also cause great suffering to the birds.
If you know of migrating birds in your area it is a great experience to witness them and enjoy their presence.
We can also bring awareness to the public the plight of migratory birds if their habitat is threatened by human activity in your local area.
Below are links that are interesting and educational for both knowledge and activism.
www.migratorybirdday.org/
nationalzoo.si.edu/migratory-birds
Photo: Albatross off Wollongong, N.S.W, Australia.