By Jennifer Nantais

In North American, World Migratory Bird Day is held on the second Saturday of May. This annual campaign highlights the need to protect and conserve migratory birds and their habitat, and to raise awareness of the threats faced by migratory birds, their ecological importance, and the need for international cooperation to conserve them.

Celebrating World Migratory Bird Day can be an effective tool because in order to sustain migrating species their homes must be protected in their breeding grounds, wintering grounds, and the necessary habitat to sustain them on their long journey.

This year Windsor proclaimed it’s first ever World Migratory Bird Day on May 14, 2022. Bird organizations held celebrations to honour the day, and the bird species that migrate to, and through Essex County.

The annual Global Big Day also took place on May 14, during which bird enthusiasts are asked to submit records of all birds they find in order to create a global snapshot of birds around the world. Essex County birders did not disappoint, with many heading out to enjoy the spring migrants and submitting their records to aid in the ongoing study of bird populations.