On Saturday, May 14, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., “Ding” Darling will honor World Migratory Bird Day with a conservation fair on the grounds in front of the Visitor & Education Center.
Migratory birds are now flooding across the continent, as they return to their nesting grounds in the spring. However, the number of birds coming back each year is decreasing as birds face mounting challenges across their journeys. The U.S. and Canada have lost nearly 3 billion birds since 1970, according to a study in Science magazine.
This year’s campaign highlights the impact of light pollution on migratory birds with the theme “Dim the Lights for Birds at Night.” The City of Sanibel and island conservation partners will set up booths to raise awareness for the plight of migrating birds caused by lighting in the night skies.
There are many other things you can do right from home to protect, celebrate, and enjoy birds. Here are some bird-friendly actions you can take on World Migratory Bird Day, and every day, to help bring birds back.
1. Celebrate World Migratory Bird Day — Right at Home. Check out online events and storytelling for kids, and find out how scientists learn where birds go. Visit the World Migratory Bird Day website.
2. Make a Bird-Friendly Place in Your Yard or Neighborhood. Provide shelter, nesting areas, and food for birds. You’ll be amazed by the birds and other wildlife you can attract with a few simple steps. Learn about native plants and other ideas from Audubon.
3. Watch Birds Near Home and Share What You See. On May 14, participate in Global Big Day, and help beat last year’s record of 134,000 bird checklists submitted to eBird.org for use in science and conservation! Look out for the birds around your home, identify as many as you can, and share your list.
4. DIY Project: Make Your Windows Safer. Glass collisions kill vast numbers of birds in the United States each year. Yet most Americans know little about this danger, and even fewer are aware of the solutions available to help prevent these deaths — fixes that in many cases are easy and inexpensive. See quick, affordable ideas from the American Bird Conservancy.
5. Reduce and Reuse Your Plastics. Plastic waste is so pervasive that microplastics found in the ocean entangles birds or is mistaken for food. Try these eight ways to reduce your plastic waste from Audubon.
