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World Migratory Bird Day 2023 highlights impact of the growing water crisis on migratory birds
BOULDER/BONN/INCHEON, 13 May 2023 – Water and its importance to migratory birds – and the increasing threats to both water quality and quantity - is the focus of this year’s World Migratory Bird Day, a global campaign that aims to raise awareness of migratory birds and the need for international cooperation to conserve them. Activities to mark the campaign will be held globally on two peak days in May and October under the theme “Water: Sustaining Bird Life” Water is fundamental to sustaining life on our planet. Migratory birds rely on water and its associated habitats—lakes, rivers, streams, ponds, swamps, marshes, and coastal wetlands—for breeding, resting, refueling during migration, and wintering. Yet increasing human demand for water, along with climate change, pollution, and other factors, are threatening these precious aquatic ecosystems. Headlines around the world are sounding alarm: 35 percent of the world’s wetlands, critical to migratory birds, have been lost in the last 50 years. Utah’s Great Salt Lake, the largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere and used by more than a million shorebirds, is in danger of disappearing within five years. Across the Amur-Heilong Basin in Asia, climate change is amplifying the impact of habitat destruction by depleting natural water systems and depriving migratory birds of vital breeding and stopover site. These sobering examples go hand-in-hand with recent reports that reveal that 48 percent of bird species worldwide are undergoing population declines. Another poignant example is that of the Aral Sea shared by Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Once the fourth-largest lake in the world, it is widely regarded as one of the planet’s worst water-related environmental disasters. Soviet-era irrigation projects almost completely dried up the lake, which led to the loss of livelihoods for fishermen and farmers and the deterioration of public health due to toxic dust and reduced access to clean water. The impact has been severe for the communities around the lake, but also for migratory birds, which lost important food sources and a critically important stopover point on their journey. Another example is the Sahel, a vast semi-arid region in Africa: Prolonged periods of drought, deforestation, and overgrazing in the Sahel have led to the degradation of the soil and loss of vegetation, threatening the survival of both the local human population and wildlife, including migratory birds. Lake Chad, one of the largest water bodies in Africa in 1960, lost 90 % of its area, depleting water resources for local communities and also for many migratory birds. World Migratory Bird Day serves as an international call to action for the protection of migratory birds, whose ranges often span multiple countries, and are facing many different threats worldwide. The annual campaign is organized by the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA), Environment for the Americas (EFTA), and the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP). World Migratory Bird Day 2023 will be officially held on 13 May and 14 October. The two days of World Migratory Bird Day reflect the cyclical nature of bird migration as well as the fact that there are varying peak migration periods in the northern and southern hemispheres. Events to raise awareness of migratory birds and the importance of water will take place all over the world including in local parks, nature centers, museums, libraries, schools, and other locations on these peak days and throughout the year. To learn more about this year’s World Migratory Bird Day campaign and actions to take, visit www.worldmigratorybirdday.org and EAAFP WMBD 2023 webpage: https://eaaflyway.net/world-migratory-bird-day-2023/ Also, please have a look of the Campaign Strategy for promoting World Migratory Bird Day, click [here]. For more resources, visit the Trello Board [here]. Message from the Partners of World Migratory Bird Day Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) “Water is essential for people as well as for migratory birds and other wild species of animals. Yet around the world, the availability and quality of water is under enormous pressure, with deeply concerning implications. The looming global water crisis requires urgent action by governments, businesses, local communities as well as individuals. Because migratory birds cross national borders and even continents, international cooperation is essential to ensure that actions are taken to conserve and restore important habitat for migratory birds, and to address the drivers of water loss, pollution, and climate change,” said Amy Fraenkel, Executive Secretary of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS). African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA) “The water crisis recently highlighted by the UN 2023 Water Conference also has a tremendous impact on migratory birds. In the Sahel in particular, many wetlands on which migratory waterbirds rely during the non-breeding period are shrinking. Water is a vital resource for all, local communities as well as birds. By reducing our consumption, combatting climate change, and managing wetlands wiser, we can improve the situation,” said Dr. Jacques Trouvilliez, Executive Secretary of the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA). Environment for the Americas (EFTA) “World Migratory Bird Day 2023 spotlights the vital role that water plays in the survival of our shared birds. The focal species illustrated on the campaign poster depict the intricate bond each bird shares with water. The diminutive Rufous Hummingbird thrives on nectar-producing flowers that rely on water for their blooms, and the Dickcissel scours the grasslands for seeds that hold the moisture they need. White Pelicans and Ospreys seek their prey in freshwater lakes, while the magnificent Wandering Albatross and Atlantic Puffin remain at sea. WMBD is an opportunity to unify our voices for the conservation of migratory birds and to celebrate their spectacular journeys,” said Dr. Susan Bonfield, Executive Director at Environment for the Americas (EFTA). East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP) “This year's WMBD theme serves as a vital reminder of the linkage of migratory birds to the importance of protecting aquatic ecosystems and conserving wetlands. As birds such as threatened Spoon-billed Sandpiper, Dalmatian Pelican, and Sarus Crane migrate, they rely heavily on wetlands for survival. We must take urgent actions and collaborate at all levels, from citizens to among governments, to tackle the problems of saving water and aquatic ecosystem, and ensure that migratory birds continue to thrive.” Ms. Yeounhee Ahn, Deputy Executive of East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP).
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Young Shorebird Ambassador Course” at Pak Thale-Laem Phak Bia Flyway Network Site, Thailand 2021-2022
EAAFP Small Grant Fund project by Bird Conservation Society Thailand Fig. 1. Poster to promote the youth camp © Bird Conservation Society Thailand Pak Thale-Laem Phak Bia is one of the three Flyway Network Sites (FNS) in Thailand. It is located on the coast of Phetchaburi in the Inner Gulf of Thailand. The site is internationally recognized as an important location of migratory shorebirds, most notably the globally Critically Endangered Spoon-billed Sandpiper, along with other globally threatened birds such as Great Knot, Spotted Greenshank, Far Eastern Curlew and Chinese Egret, which make Pak Thale-Laem Phak Bia their winter home. The site is mainly covered by salt pans, which are important roosting and feeding habitats during the high tide, when the neighbouring mud flats are covered. Salt production is also one of the main sources of income for the local communities. BCST has worked exclusively at Pak Thale-Laem Phak Bia FNS for more than 10 years. We realize the importance of preserving the saltpan landscape, both for the migratory shorebirds and for the livelihood of local communities. In 2019, BCST made a strategic land purchase, with the help of the Rainforest Trust and public crowdfunding, of 8 ha of salt pans at Pak Thale and established as “Pak Thale Nature Reserve”. The main activities at the reserve include managing habitat for shorebirds, regular shorebird monitoring, as well as awareness raising and capacity building activities for the local youth and salt farmers. Through this project, BCST would like to raise awareness among young people throughout Thailand by supporting a group of students who are passionate about producing media to learn about shorebirds and gain first-hand experience in studying the shorebirds and other related elements. This group of students will produce a set of multimedia projects which promotes the importance of shorebirds and shorebird conservation as the result of this project. To support and empower young people to communicate capacity from both urban and local groups to enhance public awareness on the importance of shorebird conservation outcomes. We developed a programme called “Young Shorebird Ambassador” to promote and to recruit young people from places in Thailand. BCST opened for applications from youth (between 15-23 years old) from all over Thailand to apply for the course as an individual or as a team (up to 3 persons) in September - October 2021. Applicants were required to write a short essay explaining how he/she thinks becoming a “Young Shorebird Ambassador” could benefit the conservation of shorebirds and propose a concept of a media project that he/she wants to produce to raise awareness of shorebird conservation. There were 3 themes of products by the ambassadors: short VDO, photography and journals and reviewed by professionals in media. Finally, BCST selected up to 10 applicants by short essays and interview to join the “Young Shorebird Ambassador Course” to be conducted both in Bangkok and Pak Thale Nature Reserve in November and December 2021. BCST held the first 2 day-workshopthrough online training due to COVID restriction, to introduce all selected applicants to the course . The main topics in the first workshop included: introduction to migratory shorebirds, Connections between shorebirds and human, Nature games to familiarize applicants to bird ecology, and basic shorebird identification. The applicants are required to develop and present their topics, concept and the types of media that they would like to produce by end of November to our mentors. The second 4 day-workshop was held at Pak Thale Nature Reserve with a stop at Khok Kham Nature Conservation Club, where BCST has a strong connection with a local conservation group that has been involved in the conservation of Spoon-billed Sandpiper for many decades. The applicants have learned through field visits and field activities at the actual site about shorebirds and the connections between shorebirds and local livelihood, particularly salt farming. During this workshop, the applicants were required to collect as many materials as needed to produce their media projects. The final project and production submission was in January-February 2022, the applicants submitted their media projects for BCST to comment on and evaluate. The final media projects of all applicants were shown at the Thailand Bird Fair 2023, an annual event by BCST to be held in late November, followed by BCST social media (Facebook, Twitter, website). This is one of VDO and photo production by our participant, Peera © Bird Conservation Society Thailand Fig.2. Photo exhibition banner and open ceremony on 5 Jul- 9 Sep 2022 © Bird Conservation Society Thailand © Bird Conservation Society Thailand Fig. 3 Journals with photos by young shorebird ambassador © Bird Conservation Society Thailand Fig. 4 during the mentoring session © Bird Conservation Society Thailand The project was funded through the 2021 EAAFP WG/TF Small Grant Fund. View the report, Click here.
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Official Launching of the Regional Flyways Initiative Webpage
The EAAFP Secretariat is pleased to announce the release of a webpage built up for the Regional Flyway Initiative (RFI). The page was set up to archive RFI-related documents, articles, media, and events for information sharing. A brief introduction of RFI, key documents (RFI Technical Assistance Report and EAAFP Strategic Plan 2019-2028), a list of meetings and webinars, articles, and publications linked to RFI are also available. Link: https://eaaflyway.net/regional-flyway-initiative/ The Regional Flyway Initiative was launched in October 2021 by joint efforts with Asian Development Bank, EAAFP, and BirdLife International at the Ecological Civilization Forum of the 15th Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP15). The Regional Flyway Initiative seeks to develop a long-term financing program to protect and restore EAAF wetland ecosystems and the services they provide. RFI aims to mobilize large-scale financing to support the protection, maintenance, and restoration of wetlands in East and Southeast Asia, especially coastal wetlands. The initiative aims to strengthen the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands across the region, which are crucial for the livelihoods of hundreds of millions of people and the migratory waterbirds in Asia and the Pacific. This will be achieved through partnerships among governments, non-government organizations, local communities, regional organizations, development agencies, private sectors, and other stakeholders.
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Thailand is preparing to propose Bangpu Nature Education Center as Flyway Network Site
Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and…
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Spoon-billed Sandpiper Task Force meeting 2021
Drafted by The Spoon-billed Sandpiper Task Force The Spoon-billed Sandpiper Task Force of The East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP) completed a two-days online meeting between 24 and 25 November…
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UNFCCC COP26 playback: “Scaling up the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Initiative”
On 2nd November, a side event “Scaling up the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Initiative” was organized at the United Nations Framework Convention on…
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An uncertain time ahead for migratory waterbirds in South-east Asia
Sandwiched between the land masses of East Asia and Australia, South-east Asia lies near the geographical heart of the East Asian–Australasian Flyway, an important migratory corridor used…
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Official Launching of Regional Flyway Initiative
On 14th October, The East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP), in cooperation with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and BirdLife International today launched the Regional Flyway Initiative (RFI), a long-term…
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