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On the second weekend of each May people around the World take action and organize public events to celebrate World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) by arranging bird-watching trips, public discussions, exhibitions, presentations, bird rallies, bird festivals and other educational and public events.

The campaign has grown every year since its inception in 2006.  Each year's theme is unique to the issues threatening migratory birds.  In 2011 over 200 events registered to make the most successful campaign yet.  World Migratory Bird Day 2012 and this year's theme Migratory Birds and People - Together through Time will stress the relationships between birds and people.

Migratory birds can cross the entire globe during their journeys, ignoring national borders and connecting the world with their migration routes.  Unfortunately, human activities including land use, hunting and pollution (and critically for ACAP-listed species, at-sea bycatch mortality in longline and trawl fisheries) now gravely threaten world migratory bird populations.

World Migratory Bird Day is organized by the Secretariats of the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) and the African- Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA).

Sooty Albatrosses Phoebetria fusca
Photograph by Ross Wanless

ACAP Latest News will be pleased to carry reports on events structured around World Migratory Day 2012 that involve albatrosses and petrels.  Send in your stories to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

UPDATE

"To support our theme text on the website we are looking for some great photos to illustrate our message for our event planners and website visitors. The WMBD team would be very grateful if you could send any photos representing birds and people that you would be willing to donate to this year's WMBD campaign.

Specifically, we are looking for photos that show the connection between Migratory Birds in Culture, Migratory Birds in the Economy, and Migratory Birds in Science. Photos with at least 300 dpi are most helpful. If we use your photo(s) your copyright is guaranteed and we would also be glad to credit you on the website.

Sean Wright, World Migratory Bird Day Coordinator, UNEP/CMS Secretariat, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., www.worldmigratorybirdday.org."

John Cooper ACAP Information Officer, 31 January 2012, updated 4 February 2012