World Migratory Bird Day

Join us for a morning of reverence for the avian community!

World Migratory Bird Day is a celebration of birds and their incredible migration routes that transport them across continents. In the Western hemisphere, the World Migratory Bird Day is celebrated in Canada and the United States on the 2nd Sunday of May and in Mexico, South and Central America, and the Caribbean on the 2nd Sunday of October.

This year’s theme: ‘Every bird counts. Your observations matter.’

Spend the morning on the shores of Lake Monona at San Damiano Park, celebrating the amazing migratory routes of birds.

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9 Ways to Build Bird-Friendly Cities and Communities

Birds play a crucial role in maintaining healthy ecosystems by pollinating plants, controlling pests, dispersing seeds, and recycling nutrients. As natural scavengers and ecosystem monitors, they help maintain biodiversity and signal environmental health. Protecting bird populations ensures the balance, biodiversity, and sustainability of ecosystems that all life depends on.

Here are nine impactful ways to create safer, bird-friendly cities and communities:

1. Plant Native Plants

• Provide food and shelter for birds while supporting pollinators like bees and butterflies.
• Native plants are adapted to your local ecosystem, making them sustainable and beneficial for wildlife.
• Attract native bird species and create a healthier environment for all.

2. Combat Collisions

• Millions of birds die from window collisions each year.
• Prevent accidents by adding decals, window films, or curtains to your windows.
• Update existing buildings with bird-friendly materials, and encourage new construction to use bird-safe glass and designs.

3. Turn Off Lights

• Artificial light disrupts bird migration and can be deadly.
• Use shielded, downward-facing lights, and turn off unnecessary lights at night.
• Install timers or motion sensors to reduce light pollution while saving energy.

4. Avoid Pesticides

• Pesticides harm insects, contaminate water, and disrupt ecosystems that birds depend on.
• Choose organic or natural alternatives for your lawn and garden.
• Provide fresh, clean water for birds to drink, bathe, and forage safely.

5. Prevent Plastic Pollution

• Birds often ingest or get tangled in plastic, causing injury or death.
• Avoid single-use plastics, and properly dispose of items like six-pack rings and fishing lines.
• Organize or participate in local clean-up efforts to reduce plastic waste in bird habitats.

6. Keep Cats Indoors

• Domestic cats are a leading threat to bird populations.
• Protect birds by keeping your cats indoors or building safe outdoor spaces like screened porches or “catios”.
• These measures also keep your cats healthier and safer.

7. Support Bird-Friendly Coffee

• Choose coffee, grown under native trees using organic, deforestation-free methods.
• Look for the Bird Friendly seal when purchasing coffee to support sustainable farming and preserve bird habitats.
• By drinking bird-friendly coffee, you also fight climate change and help biodiversity thrive.

8. Advocate for Sustainable Urban Planning

• Support policies that create green spaces, wildlife corridors, and “wild” areas within city limits.
• Encourage urban planners to prioritize biodiversity and bird habitats.
• Promote sustainable practices that benefit both wildlife and people.

9. Connect, Educate, & Inspire

Share knowledge to help build a stronger connection to nature and foster long-term support for birds.

Collaborate with neighbors, schools, businesses, and local governments to create bird-friendly spaces.

Host events like World Migratory Bird Day to raise awareness and inspire conservation efforts.