World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) is May 14, 2022. This year’s campaign highlights the impact of light pollution on migratory birds with the theme “Dim the Lights for Birds at Night.” Join us on May 5 for a WMBD virtual workshop led by Greg Butcher, ASNV Vice-President and Migratory Species Coordinator for U.S. Forest Service International Programs.
In the workshop, Greg will share simple steps that everyone can take to reduce light pollution and help birds. Most bird migration in the Americas occurs at night, with birds using stars and the moon to guide them. Urban and suburban lights increasingly outshine or lessen natural light sources, confusing the migrating birds. That confusion can slow or misdirect birds in the middle of an already strenuous journey. People are the source of this light pollution and people can take action to reduce it.
The workshop also will introduce you to an upcoming citizen science project, the 31st annual World Migratory Bird Day Count, scheduled for May 14 at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Teams of volunteers will conduct area searches, counting bird species and individuals. Data from the count is submitted for inclusion in a hemispheric database used by Partners in Flight to chart the status and population trends of resident and neotropical migratory species. At the workshop you will get information on how to register for the count.
Greg Butcher is a Ph.D. ornithologist. In addition to the U.S. Forest Service, Greg has worked for the National Audubon Society, American Birding Association, Partners in Flight, Birders World magazine, and Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Greg is a lively and informative public speaker and interpreter for bird conservation and ecology worldwide. We look forward to your joining us on May 5.