The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is once again a proud sponsor of International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD) and invites people to celebrate and support migratory bird conservation in their local communities and beyond. Initiated in 1993, IMBD was created to focus attention on the amazing journeys that some 350 bird species undertake between their nesting homes in the U.S. and Canada and non-breeding habitats in Latin America.
This year the IMBD theme is “Why Birds Matter”. IMBD aims to increase awareness of the diversity of birds around the world, the amazing migrations some take, and the phenomenal range of behaviors, plumages, and songs they exhibit. International Migratory Bird Day 2014 shares the many ways in which birds matter to the earth, to ecosystems, and of course, to us.
“We are proud to be celebrating International Migratory Bird Day with our partners and encourage everyone to participate in the festivities or simply bird watch. National Wildlife Refuges, most of which were established to protect wild places for birds, are great places for people to observe the diversity of migratory bird species,” said Clint Riley, Mountain-Prairie Assistant Regional Director for Migratory Birds and Special Programs.
Although International Migratory Bird day is typically held on the second Saturday in May (May 10 in 2014) any day can be a day to celebrate migratory birds. There are a number of events across the country conducted by the Service’s conservation partners aimed at connecting people with migratory birds. For a list of opportunities to join the celebration and additional information about IMBD, please visit: http://www.fws.gov/birds/imbd/. To locate the nearest National Wildlife Refuge, please visit: http://www.fws.gov/refuges/refugelocatormaps/.
The cornerstone of migratory bird conservation, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act will celebrate its Centennial in 2016. Enacted in 1916, the Act served to implement treaties with Canada, Mexico, Japan, and Russia to protect migratory birds. Currently there are over 1,000 species protected by the MBTA. More details about the Centennial celebration will be announced in the coming months.
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals, and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/. Connect with our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/USFWSMountainPrairie, follow our tweets at http://twitter.com/USFWSMtnPrairie, watch our YouTube Channel at http://www.youtube.com/usfws and download photos from our Flickr page at http://www.flickr.com/photos/usfwsmtnprairie/
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