August 2011: The Secretariats of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS) and the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA) announced that 205 registered events took place in 64 countries worldwide to celebrate World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) 2011, on 14-15 May 2011. “AEWA News” reports that this was a record-breaking level of participation.

WMBD is a global initiative to promote migratory birds and their conservation worldwide. The 2011 day received support from the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), BirdLife International, Wetlands International, the Partnership for the East Asian – Australasian Flyway (EAAFP) and the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU). It was celebrated in Argentina, Canada, India and Palau, among other countries.

The theme of WMBD 2011 was the negative effects of human activities on migratory birds, their habitat and the planet’s natural environment. The next WMBD will take place on 12-13 May 2012. [AEWA News]