World Migratory Bird Day | International Migratory Bird Day | WMBD 2025 | Theme 2025 | Conservation of Migratory Birds Habitats

World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) is celebrated twice a year, second Saturday in May and the Second Saturday in October.  Formerly, organizations celebrated it as International Migratory Bird Day. The day raises awareness about birds migration and conservation of migratory birds habitats. It also highlights the importance of protection of Migratory Birds habitats. However, the day focuses on a specific theme each year. World Migratory Bird Day Theme 20205 is Shared Spaces: Creating Bird-Friendly Cities and Communities. Furthermore, the day focuses on the urban bird conservation and their importance in the environment.

World Migratory Bird Day Theme 2025

WMBD is celebrated with a specific theme each Year. However, World Migratory Bird Day Theme 20205 is Shared Spaces: Creating Bird-Friendly Cities and Communities. This year Migratory Bird Day theme is focusing on making cities, villages, towns and every rural to urban space bird-friendly. Because, migratory birds are facing many challenges due to human activities and urban development. Urban development is destroying and reducing the natural habitats of migratory birds.

This bird-friendly cities theme emphasizes the need for better coexistence between humans and birds. Bird-Friendly cities mean creating urban environments that not only accomodate humans but also protect birds.  Design urban housing societies in a bird-friendly way. Furthermore, this theme focuses on how communities can adopt bird-friendly practices to improve migratory birds habitats. They can do plantation that supports insects and food source for birds. This improves the conservation of Migratory Birds.

In addition, shared spaces campaign focuses on that humans and birds share environments. Therefore, through planning and simple actions we can improve the welcoming spaces for migratory birds. Un availability of habitats and in sufficient food source can interrupt the birds life cycles. As a result, their population will rapidly decline.

Furthermore, governments should make policy regarding bird-friendly urban developments. By adopting bird-friendly urban environments with native plants and water we can create safe resting places for migratory birds.

History of World Migratory Bird Day

The United Nations established World Migratory Bird Day in 2006. The day established as an effort of the UN’s Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds to raise awareness about migratory birds & conservation of Migratory Birds habitats.

Who created International Migratory Bird Day?

Originally, World Migratory Bird day was celebrated as International Migratory Bird Day. Meanwhile, International Migratory Bird Day was created by the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center. The Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center (SMBC) works for the conservation of bird migration and migratory bird habitats.

The day was dedicated for migratory bird conservation in Canada, the United States, Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean. However, this day celebrated under the supervision of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and U.S Fish and Wildlife Service from 1995-2006.

Meanwhile, in Africa and Europe, the agreement on the conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) and the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) were working to create awareness about migratory water birds.

World Migratory Bird Day – Bird Migration Types and Climate Change Effects

Who created World Migratory Bird Day?

In 2006, AEWA and CMS launched very first World Migratory Bird Day on the weekend of 8-9 April at the Ole Ari Nyiro wildlife reserve in Kenya.

The main event at the launch titled “WINGS,” drew inspiration from the incredible phenomenon of bird migration. The day brought together many international distinguished personalities from the worlds of art, business and conservation. Since then, WMBD has been celebrated annually. Later, on 26 October 2017, Environment for the Americas (EFTA), the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) and the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) announced a partnership to boost awareness about migratory birds globally. However, they announced this partnership during the CMS COP12 in Manila. As a result,  organizers merged International Migratory Bird Day and World Migratory Bird Day to promote a global effort for the protection of migratory birds.

In 2018, they officialy named this effort “World Migratory Bird Day”.  Furthermore, they decided to hold the celebration twice a year.

Officially, WMBD celebrations take place on the second Saturday of May in Canada and the US and the Second Saturday of October in Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean.

Editor In Chief

Dr. Jassar Aftab is a qualified Veterinarian having expertise in veterinary communication. He is a renowned veterinary Journalist of Pakistan. He is veterinary columnist, veterinary writer and veterinary analyst. He is the author of three books. He has written a number of articles and columns on different topics related to livestock, dairy, poultry, wildlife, fisheries, food security and different aspects of animal sciences and veterinary education.

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