Photo: Greg Butcher

When: Thursday, May 11, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Where: Virtual
Members: FREE
Non-Members: $10

Join Greg Butcher for a seminar on World Migratory Bird Day. This year’s theme is Water, which is essential to sustaining life. Virtually all migratory birds rely on water and its associated habitats at some point during their life cycles. Lakes, rivers, streams, ponds, wetlands, and coastal waters are all vital for feeding, drinking, or nesting, and as places to rest and refuel during long seasonal migrations.

Unfortunately, these aquatic ecosystems are becoming increasingly threatened around the world, and so are the migratory birds that depend on them. The increasing human demand for water, as well as pollution and climate change, is having a direct impact on the quantity and quality of water resources and on the conservation status of many migratory bird species.

ASNV sponsors a World Migratory Bird Day count to help scientists working to protect migrating birds. Held at the height of spring migration, these counts can average over 100 species for the count circle. Teams of volunteers conduct an area search, counting species and individuals. Data is submitted for inclusion in a hemispheric database used by Partners in Flight to chart the status and population trends of resident and neotropical migratory species. This year’s count will be on Saturday, May 13. To help with the count, send a message to Jim Waggener from our website.

Greg is the former Migratory Species Coordinator for U.S. Forest Service International Programs. He is a retired Ph.D. ornithologist who has worked for the National Audubon Society, American Birding Association, Partners in Flight, Birders World magazine, and Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Greg is a recognized public speaker and interpreter for bird conservation and ecology worldwide. He welcomes the opportunity to contribute to Audubon's environmental mission at the local level.