World Migratory Bird Day observed with theme Stop the Illegal Killing, Taking and Trade of Migratory Birds

10 May: World Migratory Bird Day

World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) was observed across the world on 10 May 2016. The theme for 2016 WMBD 2014 was Stop the Illegal Killing, Taking and Trade of Migratory Birds.

The day is observed with an aim to raise awareness and highlight the need for the protection of migratory birds and their habitats.

Each year, on the second weekend in May, people around the world take action and organize public events such as bird festivals, education programmes, exhibitions and bird-watching excursions to celebrate WMBD.

World Migratory Bird Day is an annual global celebration initiated in 2006 by United Nation.

The event was founded as an effort of the UN's Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (African-Eurasian Waterbird Agreement (AEWA).

Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds

• The Agreement is an independent international treaty developed under the auspices of the United Nations Environment Programme's Convention on Migratory Species.

• It was founded to coordinate efforts to conserve bird species migrating between European and African nations.

• Its current scope stretches from the Arctic to South Africa, encompassing the Canadian archipelago and the Middle East as well as Europe and Africa.

• The agreement focuses on bird species that depend on wetlands for at least part of their lifecycle and cross international borders in their migration patterns. It currently covers 254 species.

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