Join EuroBirdwatch in your country!
17-09-2009
BirdLife Partners across the continent announce Europe's largest bird watching event
BirdLife Partners are inviting everyone to join EuroBirdwatch on 3 and 4 October, organised annually by BirdLife International and its national Partners. This year, special attention is asked for the protection of migratory birds, which are declining rapidly.
In more than 30 European countries there will be events, ranging from bird watching excursions to ringing demonstrations. Most countries will also have special posts set up to count birds that fly overhead. The results of the counts will be collected by VBN (BirdLife in the Netherlands), and will be published all over Europe afterwards.
Every year more and more people attend EuroBirdwatch events. Last year the event drew 30,000 adults and children from over 30 countries, and a total of 2.2 million birds were counted. The popularity of birds is clearly growing, but so is the urgency of their conservation.
"This enthusiasm is crucial to reduce the threats that migratory birds face on their journeys" —Ania Sharwood Smith, European Coordinator of the Born to Travel Campaign
EuroBirdwatch this year, also promotes Born to Travel, the BirdLife Flyways Campaign, to save migratory birds that travel between Europe and Africa. On their annual journeys migratory birds depend on a range of habitats, and the threats are therefore numerous. For example, intensive agriculture in Europe, deforestation in Africa and illegal hunting in the Mediterranean all decrease their chances of survival.
"It’s very motivating to see the numbers of visitors of EuroBirdwatch events increase every year. This enthusiasm is crucial to BirdLife in getting support to reduce the threats that migratory birds face on their journeys", commented Ania Sharwood Smith, European Coordinator of the Born to Travel Campaign.
To find out how you can join EuroBirdwatch you can visit/contact the BirdLife Partner in your country.
