May 9 is 'World Migratory Bird Day' — Record Every Bird: Your Observations Protect Their Future
To mark World Migratory Bird Day on May 9, the Wild Bird Society of Japan is launching a campaign under the theme of 'Citizen Science,' encouraging the public to observe and record birds using the global eBird platform to support international conservation efforts.
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- 📰 Published: April 27, 2026 at 23:00
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Saturday, May 9, is 'World Migratory Bird Day,' designated by the United Nations. Events are held across the globe, transcending borders and cultures to celebrate migratory birds. This year's theme is 'Citizen Science,' with the slogan 'Every Bird Counts ― YOUR OBSERVATIONS MATTER!'
In Asia, including Japan, awareness activities such as bird-watching events and conservation efforts are being promoted through the 'East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP),' an international framework for bird protection. The goal is to highlight the importance of conserving the entire flyway—the route birds take during migration.
The Wild Bird Society of Japan (WBSJ), as an EAAFP partner, aims to educate more people about the importance of migratory birds through this campaign. They are introducing this year's theme and distributing the Japanese version of the official poster (PDF). Additionally, as this date coincides with 'Global Big Day,' the world's largest citizen science project organized by eBird, WBSJ is broadly calling for the public to step into citizen science by bird watching in their local environments and posting their records on eBird.
The 2026 Theme: 'Every Bird Counts — YOUR OBSERVATIONS MATTER!'
World Migratory Bird Day sets a new theme every year. This year's focus on 'Citizen Science' emphasizes the significance of such efforts in migratory bird conservation. It highlights how every observation becomes valuable data, supporting bird protection at local, national, and international levels.
From backyard observations to international surveys, millions worldwide provide critical information about migratory birds, their habitats, and the challenges they face. By recording birds, anyone can participate in citizen science and contribute to understanding migration patterns, population trends, and habitat changes across the entire flyway.
This theme is particularly meaningful for understanding citizen science initiatives across major global flyways. By focusing on existing bird recording platforms like eBird and monitoring activities, the campaign showcases mechanisms that contribute to both science and policy. It emphasizes that every observation matters and offers diverse opportunities for individuals, local communities, and organizations to actively participate.
On World Migratory Bird Day, why not take a step further from your usual bird watching and join a citizen science project? Participating in these activities provides an opportunity to deepen your understanding of how continuous data collection supports bird conservation. Even the smallest observation record gains significant value as part of a long-term data collection effort. Continuous participation becomes a powerful force supporting conservation policies along the flyways.
What is 'World Migratory Bird Day'?
World Migratory Bird Day is a campaign to raise awareness about migratory birds and the importance of their conservation. It began in 2006 as a collaborative effort between two international treaties under the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP): the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) and the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS). Today, it is a global campaign with various organizations hosting observation events, exhibitions, festivals, and art or music events. While migration timings vary by region, the second Saturdays of May and October are designated as the main days. This year, they fall on May 9 and October 10.
Join eBird, a Citizen Science Project Open to Everyone!
eBird is the world's largest citizen science project, operated by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in the United States. Over 2 billion bird observation records have been submitted by birdwatchers worldwide, and this data is used for research and conservation activities. The Wild Bird Society of Japan operates the Japanese version of eBird in collaboration with the Cornell Lab. Users can submit records via the smartphone app or website, and it is free for anyone to use.
In Asia, including Japan, awareness activities such as bird-watching events and conservation efforts are being promoted through the 'East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP),' an international framework for bird protection. The goal is to highlight the importance of conserving the entire flyway—the route birds take during migration.
The Wild Bird Society of Japan (WBSJ), as an EAAFP partner, aims to educate more people about the importance of migratory birds through this campaign. They are introducing this year's theme and distributing the Japanese version of the official poster (PDF). Additionally, as this date coincides with 'Global Big Day,' the world's largest citizen science project organized by eBird, WBSJ is broadly calling for the public to step into citizen science by bird watching in their local environments and posting their records on eBird.
The 2026 Theme: 'Every Bird Counts — YOUR OBSERVATIONS MATTER!'
World Migratory Bird Day sets a new theme every year. This year's focus on 'Citizen Science' emphasizes the significance of such efforts in migratory bird conservation. It highlights how every observation becomes valuable data, supporting bird protection at local, national, and international levels.
From backyard observations to international surveys, millions worldwide provide critical information about migratory birds, their habitats, and the challenges they face. By recording birds, anyone can participate in citizen science and contribute to understanding migration patterns, population trends, and habitat changes across the entire flyway.
This theme is particularly meaningful for understanding citizen science initiatives across major global flyways. By focusing on existing bird recording platforms like eBird and monitoring activities, the campaign showcases mechanisms that contribute to both science and policy. It emphasizes that every observation matters and offers diverse opportunities for individuals, local communities, and organizations to actively participate.
On World Migratory Bird Day, why not take a step further from your usual bird watching and join a citizen science project? Participating in these activities provides an opportunity to deepen your understanding of how continuous data collection supports bird conservation. Even the smallest observation record gains significant value as part of a long-term data collection effort. Continuous participation becomes a powerful force supporting conservation policies along the flyways.
What is 'World Migratory Bird Day'?
World Migratory Bird Day is a campaign to raise awareness about migratory birds and the importance of their conservation. It began in 2006 as a collaborative effort between two international treaties under the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP): the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) and the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS). Today, it is a global campaign with various organizations hosting observation events, exhibitions, festivals, and art or music events. While migration timings vary by region, the second Saturdays of May and October are designated as the main days. This year, they fall on May 9 and October 10.
Join eBird, a Citizen Science Project Open to Everyone!
eBird is the world's largest citizen science project, operated by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in the United States. Over 2 billion bird observation records have been submitted by birdwatchers worldwide, and this data is used for research and conservation activities. The Wild Bird Society of Japan operates the Japanese version of eBird in collaboration with the Cornell Lab. Users can submit records via the smartphone app or website, and it is free for anyone to use.