World Migratory Bird Day set to "dim the lights" to mark October bird migrations

World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) is set to mark the second of its twice-yearly celebratory days on 8 October under this year’s theme, “Light Pollution”. Adopting the catch cry, “Dim the Lights for Birds at Night”, WMBD is raising awareness of the impact of light pollution on migratory birds of whom most species do so under night skies.

“Light Pollution refers to artificial light that alters the natural patterns of light and dark in ecosystems. Light Pollution is increasing globally. The amount of artificial light on the earth's surface is increasing by at least 2% each year and poses a growing threat to migratory birds. Excessive artificial light at night can disorient birds during their migration, leading to collisions with buildings, interfering with their internal clocks and disrupting migrations.”

As stated in an ACAP Latest News story earlier this year, ACAP-listed species particularly at risk are the Westland Petrel Procellaria westlandica, the Pink-footed Shearwater Ardenna creatopus and the Balearic Shearwater Puffinus mauretanicus.  Other procellariiform species seriously affected include Newell’s Puffinus newelli and Wedge-tailed Ardenna pacifica Shearwaters and Hawaiian Petrels Pterodroma sandwichensis on inhabited Hawaiian islands and Hutton’s Shearwater Puffinus huttoni that breeds inland on New Zealand’s South Island.

The issue of light pollution and its impacts on wildlife are increasingly recognised globally as a serious problem. The topic was considered for the first time at the Convention on Migratory Species of Wild Animals thirteenth meeting of the Conference of Parties (CMS COP13) in 2020 following draft resolutions submitted independently by the European Union and Australia. Best practice guidelines are now under development under the Convention on Migratory Species.

World Migratory Bird Day is celebrated twice a year, on the second Saturdays in May and October, reflecting the peak times of migration along the world’s flyways and the seasonal nature of bird migration. For more information on WMBD and how you can be involved visit their website.

7 October 2022