World Migratory Bird Day 2015: Energy – make it bird-friendly!

Photo from www.worldmigratorybirdday.org

World Migratory Bird Day was initiated  in 2006 and is an awareness-raising campaign which highlights the conservation of migratory birds and their habitats. This annual event is celebrated every second weekend of May and organized by two international wildlife treaties, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) - the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), and the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA).

This year’s celebration has the theme “Energy – make it bird-friendly!”, which aims to emphasize the importance of utilizing energy technologies that do not inadvertedly pose threats to migratory bird species and to their habitats. Empowering actions toward this goal requires proper planning, design and risk assessment. Therefore, this must be participated not only by authorities, organizations, experts and the energy sector but also by an ordinary people of the society.

Search through SeaLifeBase’s collection of about 400 seabirds to know more.

Source:

9-10 May 2015 World Migratory Bird Day. www.worldmigratorybirdday.org [Accessed 05/06/2015].

Written by:

DIVE DIVE DIVE!!!

Photo by Ben Osborne from ARKiVE

The Imperial Shag (Phalacrocorax atriceps) is a sea bird resident of Sub-Antarctic islands and the Antarctic Peninsula. These sea birds are known to feed on fish, crustaceans, squid and other benthic invertebrates.  During feeding, it dives up to depths of 200 feet (60 meters), and as such, it is referred to as the “superbird” by enthusiasts.

Check out this video shot in Punta Leon, Argentina, where this behavior was documented by the Wildlife Conservation Society in December 2011. The sea bird dove 150 feet (45.72 in meters) in 40 seconds, just to catch a fish! On the surface, that’s just like jumping from a 13-story building down to the ground. Aren’t these birds talented? They use their physiology and environmental factors to feed and provide for their young!

Written by:

Patricia Yap

Research Assistant

The SeaLifeBase Project