3rd annual World Shorebirds Day on 6 September 2016

Coming soon is the 3rd annual World Shorebirds Day on 6 September 2016! Will you be among the hundreds of shorebird enthusiasts, scientists, conservationists, and educators around the world celebrating it?

For György Szimuly, U.K.-based shorebird advocate and photographer who created World Shorebirds Day (WSD), “This day was inspired by the ongoing conservation issues that shorebirds are facing around the world.” Most of the world’s shorebird species are experiencing significant population declines—some since the 1970s, others more recently. Habitat loss and human disturbance, among other threats, continue to take a particular toll on these birds globally. World Shorebirds Day reminds us that every sector of society can play a role in helping these species to recover and thrive long term.

Global Shorebird Counting is the central theme of WSD. You are encouraged to not only go out and observe shorebirds where you live, but also record how many of each species you see. Consistent monitoring is a core tool in conserving shorebird species and habitats, and WSD is a great opportunity for people of all skill levels to contribute towards the very real need for shorebird population data worldwide. The window for counting is 2–6 September 2016. Learn more about registering your local site and submitting data.

All 96 WHSRN Sites and, more directly, the hundreds of people committed to their good stewardship, comprise the most successful network for shorebird conservation in the Western Hemisphere. As such, we have the potential to contribute the greatest amount of count data to this global effort from “our” hemisphere. It is inspiring that many WHSRN sites have already put themselves on the WSD site map – but there are MANY more to go! It’s easy to register your WHSRN site and, later, enter your counts in the eBird database.

Your WHSRN Executive Office staff will be participating in educational field trips, shorebird counts, and/or local community celebrations at various places throughout the Americas: Asunción Bay WHSRN Site in Paraguay; Santiago, Chile; and at wetlands in coastal Maine and Massachusetts (USA). Our Director Rob Clay will be in Barbados at the landmark Woodbourne Shorebird Refuge—a former shorebird “shooting swamp” turned sanctuary. Read more about this refuge and past WSD observance in WHSRNews: November 2009; September 2014.

Courtesy of Centro Bahía Lomas, Chile.

WHSRN Site partners, if you haven’t already done so, please register your WHSRN site today! Connect with others in the Network by sharing your plans and photos via the WHSRN Facebook page and WSD Facebook page, using #worldshorebirdsday.

Friends and neighbors of WHSRN sites, check our list or Google Map of sites to find a WHSRN site near you. Click on the name or placemarker for a link to its Site Profile, which has local contact information and websites. This is also available via our downloadable, interactive, Google Earth WHSRN map.

Happy World Shorebirds Day everyone!

source: www.whsrn.org