It begins: 8 May is World Migratory Bird Day
Environment — di Lorenzo Brenna
On 8 May, the importance of migratory birds is celebrated — birds whose endless journeys are being put at risk by human impact.
It begins: 8 May is World Migratory Bird Day
On 8 May, the importance of migratory birds is celebrated — birds whose endless journeys are being put at risk by human impact.
Last updated: 7 May 2021
They say that "to leave is to die a little" — but not for them. For them, travelling means perpetuating a primordial rite, means taking flight, sometimes into the unknown; for them, to leave means to live. We are talking about migratory birds — those creatures that periodically undertake migrations in search of food, a better climate, or the ideal conditions for breeding. Migration is a fairly widespread phenomenon in nature: large mammals migrate, fish migrate, invertebrates migrate, and, of course, human beings migrate, whose migratory instinct has contributed decisively to making our species what it is today. No creature, however, migrates with the incomparable ethereal grace of birds, which, obeying an ancestral call, embark on epic journeys spanning even thousands of kilometres.
A tribute to the travellers of the skies
On the second Saturday of May and October, these feathered caravans that cross our skies with impeccable orientation are celebrated. World Migratory Bird Day was established in 2006 by Unep, the United Nations Environment Programme, and aims to raise awareness among institutions and the general public about the importance of protecting migratory birds and their natural habitats. To deepen knowledge of the people of the skies, on the occasion of the day dedicated to them, Wwf oases organise activities and guided visits to their nature reserves, which are home to thousands of migratory birds.
In 2018, at the Cop 12 in Manila, the organisations Ambiente para las Américas (Efta), the Convention on Migratory Species (Cms) and the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (Aewa) formed a partnership in an attempt to increase awareness of migratory birds and highlight the urgent need to conserve them. Since then, the joint campaign has adopted the single name World Migratory Bird Day, and the main events to celebrate the day are organised twice a year, on the second Saturday of May and October.
The 2021 edition
This year's theme is "Sing, Fly, Soar – Like a Bird!" It is a metaphor — all of us must raise our voices for the protection of migratory birds — but also an invitation to reconnect with nature, by listening to birdsong or by observing birds in their habitat, wherever we may be.
Migratory birds connect the planet
The slogan chosen for the 2020 edition was Birds connect our world, and reminded us that birds live in almost every type of environment — they can be spotted in the countryside as well as in cities, in the mountains as well as by the sea — and that they "connect to all these habitats and connect us and the places where we live to people and places all over the world," said Amy Fraenkel, Executive Secretary of the Cms. The theme also underscored the importance of conserving and restoring ecological connectivity and ecosystem integrity, which are essential for the survival and well-being of migratory birds.
Italy: a coveted but dangerous destination for migratory birds
Our country is a privileged vantage point for observing migratory birdlife that uses Italy as a natural bridge between Africa and Europe. Around two billion migratory birds cross Italy, of every shape and size, from the majestic white stork to the agile swallows that, from Africa, travel thousands of kilometres of desert and then sea to return to their birthplaces. A stopover in Italy can, however, prove fatal for birds: millions of birds are illegally killed while crossing our skies, making our country the most dangerous area in the Mediterranean for feathered migrants. The destruction and degradation of habitats — such as lowland and coastal wetlands — and the presence of infrastructure such as power lines or wind farms are further threats to animals already exhausted by their journey.
Migratory birds are a resource
If the undeniable ecological value and beauty of these animals were not enough to protect them, migratory birds also represent an economic resource. Ecotourism linked to wildlife watching is steadily growing, and birdwatching represents a major tourist attraction.
Incredible true migration stories
Migrations are undertaken by numerous bird species that are very different from one another, from larger ones such as cranes and storks to others that weigh just a few grams. Each adopts peculiar strategies, some of which are truly astonishing. The common swift (Apus apus) is capable of remaining airborne continuously throughout its wintering period, sleeping on the wing and even moulting its feathers in flight. The blackpoll warbler (Stenophaga striata), a tiny passerine with an average weight of around 12 grams, undertakes an incredible journey every autumn, flying over a stretch of the Atlantic Ocean of more than two thousand kilometres without ever landing. The Arctic tern (Sterna paradisaea), meanwhile, holds the record for the longest migration ever recorded. This elegant seabird with its distinctive coral-red bill flies across the Atlantic, covering around 96,000 kilometres from Great Britain to the South Pole and back. All we can do is look up at the sky and gaze in admiration — and a little envy — at these travellers of the air, unable to stay too long in the same place, with an instinct that never fades to take flight and set off, as their ancestors did before them and as their descendants will continue to do, if we are able to protect them.