World Migratory Bird Day Reminds Us to Listen to the Birds

Probably the most celebrated symbols of spring all over the world is the arrival of migratory birds. This pure phenomenon will be skilled and admired in almost each nook of the globe. Throughout spring within the northern hemisphere, many birds are heading north to their breeding grounds within the Boreal Forest of Canada. Later within the yr after their younger have fledged—and through spring within the southern hemispheric—they’ll return to their southern properties together with Panama, Colombia, or Chile. 

It’s on this spirit that we rejoice World Migratory Hen Day (WMBD) twice a yr. The official dates in 2025 are Might 10^th and October 11^th. WMBD is a chance not solely to rejoice the surprise of birds, however to raised educate ourselves in regards to the sorts of birds we have now round us, what sorts of pressures could also be affecting them, and what we will do to assist relieve a few of that strain. 

With so many birds heading north to breed proper now, we focus our consideration on their vacation spot. The Boreal offers nesting and migration habitat for a powerful quantity and various array of birds. Almost half of all widespread hen species of the U.S. and Canada depend on this huge biome for his or her nesting or migratory stopover habitat (325+ species in complete), and it ‘produces’ round 30% of the North American landbird inhabitants, 30% of the shorebird inhabitants, and 38% of the waterfowl inhabitants general. The birds vary from birds like Darkish-eyed Junco and White-crowned Sparrow to extensively appreciated neotropical migrants, together with greater than half of the recognized wooden warbler species of North America, a few of that are virtually solely reliant on the Boreal for nesting grounds. In actual fact, the Boreal offers nesting grounds for not less than three-quarters of the inhabitants of the Bay-breasted Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, Cape Might Warbler, Connecticut Warbler, Mourning Warbler, Palm Warbler, and Tennessee Warbler.

Over the previous a number of a long time, momentum has been constructing in Canada to not solely higher perceive and admire the numerous advantages and ecological values of the Boreal Forest, but additionally higher defend it. Indigenous governments and organizations have been on the forefront of this effort.

Within the following video, our companions at SNAP Quebec take you to northern Abitibi-Témiscamingue to satisfy the Abitibiwinni First Nation, who’re working to raised perceive and defend the birds of the Boreal Forest. 

So when you’re out this weekend and spot a White-throated Sparrow, Widespread Loon, or one of many different 300+ hen species that owe a lot of their existence to the Boreal, know that there are some constructive issues taking place on the bottom in Canada that ought to assist guarantee we’re capable of proceed having fun with these pleasant migrants for many years to come back. Completely satisfied #WMBD!