World Migratory Bird Day

Coronavirus may have completely upended things for our species, but around the world life goes on for a host of other animals.  Spring is here, putting us in the middle of bird migrations.  Today, we celebrate World Migratory Bird Day!  Migratory birds are an important component of many ecosystems, serving as a link between different habitats across the globe.  They are, unfortunately, also a group that is suffering tremendous decline.  Take a look at the birds below.  How many have you seen in your backyard lately?



Unlike many endangered species across the globe, there are plenty of actions that we ourselves can take on a daily basis to improve the survival of our migratory songbirds, many of which are fairly easy.  They include:

• Reducing pesticide use - pesticide poisons accumulate in the bodies of birds that feed upon them and may make them sick, or even kill them
• Buy bird-friendly coffee (it has a special certification), which helps preserve the Central and South American forests were many songbirds overwinter
• Don't let your cat range freely outside - cats kill an estimated 1 billion birds a year, as well as many other small native animals.  It's also not great for the cats - outdoor cats tend to live shorter, more stressful lives than indoor ones.  If you can, consider building an enclosed "catio" to give your cats some outdoor time while keeping them - and native wildlife - safe
• Report songbirds that you see being kept as pets or sold (this is especially prominent in Florida, where singing bird competitions are popular among some communities).  Native songbirds are protected federally and their capture and sale is strictly prohibited
• Switch your lawn over to native plants - fewer chemicals needed, less watering needed, and more likely to provide food and habitat for native birds
• Reduce bird collisions with your winds - keep your blinds closed and turn off lights when you're not around, and consider adding decals to your windows to help birds see them
• Go birding!  By using eBird and other apps, you can help scientists monitor species in your area and help them study trends and declines