Theme 2025: “Shared Spaces: Creating Bird-Friendly Cities and Communities”
World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) 2025 emphasizes the importance of coexistence between humans and birds in rapidly urbanizing environments. The campaign urges cities, communities, and individuals to adopt bird-friendly practices to ensure sustainable habitats for migratory birds.
This year’s theme calls for urban planning that integrates green spaces, minimizes pollution, and preserves migratory routes- ensuring birds and humans thrive together.
Key Highlights
- Date of Observance: Celebrated twice a year — in May and October, corresponding to migration periods in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
- Focus 2025: Promoting cities and communities that support bird-friendly living through environmental design and citizen participation.
- Aim: To raise awareness on the threats migratory birds face from human activities such as habitat loss, pollution, and urban expansion.
Organizers:
- Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS)
- African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA)
- Environment for the Americas (EFTA)
- East Asian–Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP)
Meaning of “Bird-Friendly”
“Bird-friendly” refers to creating safe and welcoming habitats for birds within human environments.
Key actions include:
- Planting native vegetation for food and nesting.
- Providing clean water sources.
- Avoiding toxic pesticides and chemicals.
- Installing bird-safe windows and lighting.
- Conserving wetlands and migratory routes.
About World Migratory Bird Day
- Launched by: Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) and partners.
- Purpose: To raise global awareness and mobilize action to conserve migratory birds and their habitats.
- Nature of the Day: Serves as a global campaign promoting education and cooperation across borders for bird conservation.
- Frequency: Observed twice yearly — Second Saturday of May and October.
Key Organizing Bodies
Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS)
- Also known as: Bonn Convention.
- Established: 1979.
- Headquarters: Bonn, Germany.
- Administered by: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
- Parties: 133 member countries (as of 2025).
- India’s Status: Party since 1983.
- Objective: To conserve migratory species across their range and promote international cooperation for their protection.
- Major Meeting in India: CMS COP-13 held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat (2020) with the theme “Migratory species connect the planet and we welcome them home”.
African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA)
- Adopted: 1995 (entered into force in 1999).
- Headquarters: Bonn, Germany.
- Parties: 84 countries + European Union.
- Geographic coverage: 119 countries across Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia, Greenland, and the Canadian Archipelago.
- Covers: 255 migratory waterbird species dependent on wetlands.
- Objective: Coordinated conservation of migratory waterbirds and their habitats across the African–Eurasian Flyway.
Environment for the Americas (EFTA)
- Founded: 2005.
- Headquarters: Boulder, Colorado, USA.
- Purpose: Coordinates WMBD across the Americas; promotes bird research, conservation education, and youth internships in wildlife management.
- Key Focus: Engages the public in migratory bird protection through outreach programs and citizen science.
East Asian–Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP)
- Established: 2006.
- Headquarters: Incheon, Republic of Korea.
- Countries Covered: 22 nations across East Asia, Southeast Asia, and Australasia.
- Focus: Protects migratory waterbirds and their habitats through international cooperation.
- Unique Feature: Promotes the establishment of networks of important sites along the flyway, supporting millions of migratory birds.
- Linked to: Ramsar Regional Initiative.
Conservation Significance
- Migratory birds are indicators of ecosystem health and connect continents, crossing thousands of kilometers annually.
- Urban expansion, light pollution, and loss of wetlands have caused severe declines in migratory populations.
- WMBD 2025 aims to inspire inclusive conservation, encouraging every citizen, city, and nation to act locally for global biodiversity preservation.
Key Facts
| Aspect | Details |
| World Migratory Bird Day First Observed | 2006 |
| Observed by | CMS, AEWA, EFTA, EAAFP |
| UN Environment Treaty for Migratory Species | CMS (Bonn Convention) |
| Headquarters of CMS and AEWA | Bonn, Germany |
| EAAFP Headquarters | Incheon, South Korea |
| India’s Important Migratory Bird Sites | Bharatpur (Keoladeo National Park), Chilika Lake, Nal Sarovar, Pong Dam, Rann of Kutch |
| Major Indian Migratory Bird | Bar-headed Goose (one of the highest flying birds in the world) |
| Other International Bird Days | International Bird Day (April), World Wildlife Day (3 March) |
| Theme 2024 (previous year) | “Protect Insects, Protect Birds” |
| Global Ramsar Convention Year | 1971 (Iran) |
| Total Ramsar Sites in India (2025) | 82 sites |