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Today, Saturday, May 10, is International Migratory Bird Day. Through birding walks, festivals, and education programs, IMBD recognizes the great spectacle of migration. This year's theme, "Tundra to Tropics," highlights the vast distances birds fly between their breeding and non-breeding territories.
Mexican wildlife artist Eleazar Saenz painted the poster promoting this year's celebration. (Click it to see it big! You won't be disappointed.) Saenz displays 12 species against a backdrop of mountains, forest, desert, and other habitats. From the top, the birds are: Long-tailed Jaeger, Northern Harrier, Blackpoll Warbler, American Redstart, Northern Shoveler, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Ruddy Turnstone, Cinnamon Teal, Bobolink, Azure-rumped Tanager, Short-eared Owl, and Bananaquit.
Most are birds you can see in the U.S., but you won't find all 12 species on one bird walk. (You'd have to go to Mexico's Chiapas region or neighboring Guatemala to glimpse the tanager, which is endangered.) But if Saenz's art doesn't make you want to get out and see birds this spring, nothing will. Find an IMBD event near you, and watch birds! — M.M.
Read more about International Migratory Bird Day.
Read an article on climate change and birds by IMBD Program Director Susan Bonfield.
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