Migratory Birds
World Migratory Bird Day: Every Bird Counts — Your Observations Matter!
World Migratory Bird Day is a global campaign that serves as a beacon for conservation efforts aimed at safeguarding migratory birds and their journeys across borders. Celebrated twice a year, first on May 9, then on October 10, World Migratory Bird Day reflects the cyclical nature of bird migration and the varying peak periods in the northern and southern hemispheres. This worldwide initiative triggers countless educational events, uniting people in a common goal to protect migratory birds and their habitats.
Each year, World Migratory Bird Day selects a central theme to inspire action and concentrate global efforts towards preserving the habitats and wellbeing of migratory birds. This year's theme is "Every Bird Counts — Your Observation's Matter!" This theme highlights the role of public participation in collecting data on migratory bird populations and their habitats and factors that impact their populations and contribute to knowledge about how to protect them. Community science, ranging from backyard bird counts to large-scale coordinated surveys/schemes, provide information on species distribution, abundance trends, migration timing, and breeding success. This data is important to identify conservation priorities and inform effective conservation action plans and strategies. By engaging individuals and communities in monitoring efforts, we not only gather scientific data but also build a deeper connection to nature, raise awareness about the challenges migratory birds face, and inspire direct conservation action.
Call to Action
Sustainable State College advocates for simple yet effective strategies that individuals can implement to protect insects and birds:
- Insect-Friendly Gardens: plant native flowers, shrubs, and trees that provide habitat for insects.
- Support organic farming: select organic products, thereby avoiding harmful pesticides and reducing habitat destruction linked to property development or landscaping practices.
- Minimize habitat destruction: when developing or landscaping your property, try to compensate for the loss and preserve natural areas.
- Support pollinator-friendly initiatives: advocate for and support local policies and initiatives that protect insects and their habitats.
Additionally, Sustainable State College emphasizes the importance of educating friends and family about the role insects play in our ecosystem, and support educational efforts aimed at insect conservation, promoting their conservation at the community level.
Check out the following organizations and initiatives that support insect, plant, and bird conservation:
Pennsylvania Native Plant Society
Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center
Penn State Center for Pollinator Research
Simple Actions to Help Birds at Night
The Borough of State College has a shared destiny with migratory birds and insects. Each step towards conservation is a step towards a sustainable future.
Celebrated twice a year, first on May 9, then on October 10, World Migratory Bird Day reflects the cyclical nature of bird migration and the varying peak periods in the northern and southern hemispheres. Sustainable State College and Bird Town Pennsylvania invite you to celebrate World Migratory Bird Day by dimming your lights at night to protect birds on their migration.
Migratory birds and their habitats are declining in Pennsylvania. To raise public awareness about human-caused bird mortalities, join the Borough in in the "Lights Out State College" community event. Sign the pledge here to reduce artificial and unnecessary lighting from 8:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. on World Migratory Bird Day!
The Issue
Annual bird mortality resulting from window collisions in the U.S. is estimated to be between 365-988 million birds (Loss et al. 2014). About 44% of collisions occur at residential buildings while the other 56% occur at high- and low-rise buildings.
The Borough of State College is working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to address human-caused sources of bird mortality. Bird population declines can harm ecosystem integrity and reduce ecological and economic services. The magnitude of bird losses needs a strong response and an increased focus on tangible actions that result in measurable conservation outcomes.
Reflectivity & Transparency
Birds do not see clear or reflective glass (Klem and Saenger, 2013). Windows reflect the sky, trees, and open spaces that birds see as a clear flight path and continuation of habitat.
Light Pollution
Songbirds often migrate at night and use the stars to find their way. Light pollution from artificial lights can drown out the stars and confuse birds, often resulting fatal collisions. During spring and fall bird migrations, when inclement weather occurs, birds can be attracted to light structures resulting in collisions, entrapment, excess energy expenditure, and even exhaustion in some situations (Manville 2009). This phenomenon has resulted in a concentrated avian mortality event at buildings where bright lights are placed in otherwise dark areas (McLaren et al. 2018; Horton et al. 2019). Light pollution has serious ecological impacts, waste electricity, and increases greenhouse gas emissions.