World Migratory Bird Day

World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) is a global celebration to highlight the need for protection of migratory birds and their habitats. This year‛s theme was “Migratory birds and people – together through time.” From earliest times and across cultures, humans have relied on birds, be it to supply food, deliver messages, mark the passing of the seasons or serve as symbols of power and prestige.

Migratory birds provide essential ecological benefit and services such as pest control, pollination and seed dispersal, and the phenomenon of bird migration is crucial to the web of life. This year‛s celebrations in Kenya were held on the 12th-13th of May at various sites by Nature Kenya Site Support Groups (SSGs) – local environmental groups associated with Nature Kenya.

1. The first Clarke‛s Weaver Football Tournament in Marafa (northwest of Malindi) was organized by the Dakatcha Woodland Conservation Group (DWCG), to raise awareness on both migratory birds and the endangered Clarke‛s Weaver. Dakatcha Primary School emerged the winners of the tournament as well as of the environmentally conscious schools, after being voted the school that had planted the highest number of trees. The event brought together around 300 people.
2. In the Tana River Delta at the Coast, awareness campaigns provided information about birds to four schools, with a total of 1013 pupils and 27 teachers. The celebrations culminated in an audio-visual presentation and discussion on birds and the threats affecting wetlands and forests within the Tana Delta, attended by about 250 pupils and 150 community members.
3. In the Taita Hills, eleven Dawida Biodiversity Conservation Group members together with 48 students and three teachers shared talks on migratory birds, bird identifi cation and the importance of geography as a subject in relation to migratory species. A birdwalk in the Ngangao Forest on 13th May recorded 28 species, including birds found only in the Taita Hills forests.
4. Five staff members of the BirdLife Africa Secretariat joined some 100 Mt Kenya Biodiversity Conservation Group members on the slopes of Mount Kenya near Naro Moru. The activities here included bird watching and planting 700 tree seedlings within the IBA.
5. At Dunga Swamp near Kisumu city, the Lake Victoria Sunset Birders were joined by staff of the Ministry of Tourism, Kisumu branch and three schools, with 45 students and three teachers. The celebrations here included talks on causes of migration; migratory birds and how they interact with different cultures along their long journey to various places; the need to conserve their habitats; and their importance to people and the environment. Time was allocated to the students to hold their own discussions on issues concerning their efforts towards conservation. They cited inadequate support by their parents and elder people and inadequate resources and knowledge. Lastly, the students had a chance to see a documentary on migratory birds in the Wildlife Clubs of Kenya hall.
6. In Yala Swamp in western Kenya, Yala Wetlands Environmental Volunteers participated in bird watching along Nyadorera Sidundo road and managed to spot 18 bird species within one hour! Later, the SSG members joined standard six pupils of Sidundo Primary School in planting 100 trees around the school compound.
7. In Kakamega, many people already knew about migratory species like the White and Black Storks, which they see at certain seasons. The celebrations in Kakamega Forest, organized by Kakamega Environmental Education Programme, included bird watching, discussions on the challenges facing migratory species and possible solutions, factors causing migration, types of migration and drawing sessions for the pupils. General bird ecology was also taught to the pupils. A total of 150 pupils and adults attended. During that weekend, 64 bird species were recorded in the Southern section of the forest and 143 bird species in the Northern side, including four migratory birds. A video show on migratory species was also shown later in the day.