World Migratory Bird Day Octobre2023

In October, people and organisations from all over the world come together to celebrate World Bird Day and Migratory Bird Day.

Urdaibai Bird Center will celebrate on Sunday 15th October. The Center will be open from 11:00 to 19:00.

We have organised some activities for the public.

There will be 2 scientific ringing sessions - one at 10:00 and the other at 11:00.

In addition to the ringing, we will offer a guided walk for participants to learn about all the work we are doing within the Next Generation conservation project. It will leave from the Urdaibai Bird Center at 10.30.

As places are limited for the ringing and the walk, you must sign up by calling the Urdaibai Bird Center.

World Migratory Bird Day is an annual awareness campaign that highlights the need to conserve migratory birds and their habitats. It has a global reach and is an effective tool to help raise global awareness of the threats migratory birds face, their ecological importance and the need for international cooperation to conserve them.

The theme for World Migratory Bird Day 2023 is "water", fundamental to life on our planet. The vast majority of migratory birds depend on aquatic ecosystems for their life cycles. Inland and coastal wetlands, rivers, lakes, streams, and marshes are vital for nesting, resting and refuelling during their long journeys.

Aquatic ecosystems are increasingly threatened and so are the migratory birds that depend on them. Increasing human demand for water, as well as pollution and climate change, are having a direct impact on the availability of clean water and the conservation status of many migratory birds.

From the observatory of the Bird Center, you can enjoy many of nature's treasures.

One that is especially dear to us is Muxar, the osprey that winters in Urdaibai. It is a joy to see him fishing, preening or sleeping in a tree near the Center.

We are also being visited by large groups of spoonbills on their way south. We are collaborating with Dutch and French groups to follow the progress of these individuals.

For this special day we have made new sweatshirts, designed to keep the spoonbill close to our hearts. On Sunday 15th October, the day of the celebration, 3 spoonbill sweatshirts will be raffled among the visitors who come to the Urdaibai Bird Center. Take part and see if you are lucky!

Do you want to be part of the global community coming together to protect birds and their habitats? It's a world you can enjoy to the fullest!

Visit us on 15 October!