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Statement by Prof Martin Wikelski on World Migratory Bird Day 2018

Martin Wikelski Alley of Cosmonauts by Fabian Walker DLRProf. Dr. Martin Wikelski

Managing Director of the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology

Migratory birds provide invaluable services to humankind. Without migratory birds, we would suffer massive harvest failures as documented by misguided bird eradication campaigns 60 years ago. Migratory birds are also essential for the peoples souls: children songs in every language and culture herald birds as our messengers. And yet we currently start to loose many our migratory birds.

We know we can do better as humankind: we have documented we can preserve bird populations if we face the challenge. I am confident the globalization of animal observations will help us to confront the threat for our birds on a global level. We will soon welcome more birds again in the skies and be delighted about the message the bring: about life, spring and general well being.

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