Birds Connect Our WorldBirds Connect Our World
World Migratory Bird Day
Organizer’s Guide 2020
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Table of Contents
WORLD MIGRATORY BIRD DAY (WMBD) ................................. 3
2020 WMBD THEME
Birds Connect Our World ................................. 5
SOCIAL MEDIA TOOLS
Sharing the 2020 Theme ............................. 6
ABOUT TRACKING BIRD MIGRATION
Tracking Methods ................ 7
ACTIVITY 1
The Life Cycle of A Bird ............................................. 8
ACTIVITY 2
Tracking Bird Migration ............................................ 10
ACTIVITY 3
Exploring Tracking Devices ........................................ 11
ACTIVITY 4
Make a Bird Mask ................................................. 13
ACTIVITY 5
Be a Bander ....................................................... 14
ACTIVITY 6
Mapping the Canada Warbler’s Migration ......................... 17
ACTIVITY 7
Helping at Home .................................................. 20
ACTIVITY 8
Plastic Cleanup .................................................... 21
ACTIVITY 9
WMBD 2020 Matching Game .......................................23
Organizer’s Guide 2020
Birds Connect Our World
Friends Program Sponsors
®
3.
Environment for the Americas
and World Migratory Bird Day
What is a World Migratory Bird Day Program or Event? We invite your organization to join us in
celebrating migratory birds and promoting their conservation. We understand that organizations come in all sizes,
large and small, with different capacities to host programs and events. Your efforts to share key messages about
the spectacular long-distance journeys of migratory birds, the threats they face along the way, and the meaningful
actions that individuals, communities, and other groups can take to protect birds can be scaled in a way that
works for you.
We ask that your World Migratory Bird Day program or event:
• Engages participants in learning about migratory birds
• Shares information about some of the potential dangers that can impact migratory bird populations
• Highlights the annual conservation theme, Birds Connect Our World, using the slogan and hands-on activities
• Promotes World Migratory Bird Day through social media, print, radio, and television
• Is registered on our global map at www.migratorybirdday.org/events
When is World
Migratory Bird Day?
WMBD Can Be Celebrated Twice Each Year:
1. On the second Saturday in May, as birds return to their nesting sites.
2. On the second Saturday in October, as they travel to non-breeding grounds.
But because birds don’t all travel on the same day, we encourage you
to celebrate when the birds are present and the timing works best for
your organization. Because of this, WMBD is now celebrated almost
every month of the year!
Environment for the Americas (EFTA) is a non-profit organization that strives to connect
people across the Western Hemisphere to bird conservation through education, outreach,
and research. Each year EFTA works with hundreds of participating organizations and
agencies to coordinate World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD). The following Organizer’s Guide
is designed to help you develop your program, event, or festival for the 2020 celebration and
share the theme of Birds Connect Our World with youth, adults, families, and other groups.
World Migratory Bird Day
WMBD Materials
Through this guide, we provide you with tips and tools to
organize your WMBD event from start to finish, focusing
on the 2020 conservation theme.
A general outline of your plan should include
the following steps:
1. Identify a WMBD coordinator or team
2. Learn more about the 2020 WMBD conservation
theme highlighting the different methods and
technologies used to track bird migration
3. Identify your WMBD target audience(s)
4. Determine what you need to make your
WMBD event successful, including logistical
and financial support
5. Identify partners willing to participate in
or support your event
6. Develop fun, educational WMBD activities
using this guide and other resources
Here’s Where to Find Your WMBD Materials
Please don’t hesitate to contact EFTA with any questions.
Education materials, yers, presentations, and more:
migratorybirdday.org/resources
Event materials to purchase for your event:
migratorybirdday.org/shop
To register your event on the global map:
migratorybirdday.org/events/
For questions:
EMAIL: info@environmentamericas.org CALL: 303.499.1950
Additional Materials:
EFTA provides many other materials
you’ll need to host a successful WMBD
event. On our website, we provide a
directory of educational resources,
which includes materials that
highlight the annual conservation
theme, promotional materials,
and much more.
e History of WMBD
In 1993 visionaries at the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center in
Washington, D.C. became concerned about declines in migratory bird popu-
lations across the Western Hemisphere and envisioned a program that would
spark an interest in and enjoyment of birds that would translate into a desire
to help protect them. They created International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD)
to accomplish this goal. In 2007, Environment for the Americas (EFTA), a
non-profit conservation organization based in Boulder, Colorado, assumed
leadership of the program and more than doubled the level
of participation.
After noting the success of IMBD, the United Nation’s Convention on Migratory
Species (CMS) began a similar program in 2005. In 2018, EFTA and CMS joined
forces and signed an agreement to promote migratory bird conservation across the
globe through the biannual educational campaign and celebration called
World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD).
WMBD is a celebration of the spectacular journeys that migratory birds take as they
travel between nesting and non-breeding sites around the world. It highlights the
changes in seasons when longer days prompt millions of birds to embark on their ar-
duous journeys to the north in spring and to the south each fall. WMBD is also about
raising awareness of these long-distance travelers and the threats they face along
the way through festivals, events, and programs offered at natural areas, schools,
zoos, libraries, museums, and many additional locations. Through these activities,
organizers create connections between birdwatchers, businesses,
conservation groups, the news media, and national, state, and local officials.
WMBD is an annual opportunity to be part of the solution to bird
conservation issues and to share your passion for birds in a resounding
way. is Organizer’s Guide is designed to provide you with the
information you need to get started.
4.
2020 World Migratory Bird Day
Conservation Theme:
Birds Connect Our World!
5.
In 2009, scientists captured a shorebird
called a Whimbrel on the coast of
Virginia—a vital migration stopover for
this species. The scientists fitted the
bird, nicknamed Hope, with a satellite
transmitter so that they could follow
her travels. Shuttling between breeding
grounds in northwestern Canada and a
wintering site in the Virgin Islands, Hope
demonstrated both the spectacular
journeys that migratory birds make each
year and the threats they frequently
face.
In 2020, the annual World Migratory
Bird Day (WMBD) conservation
campaign features the slogan “Birds
Connect Our World.” Throughout the
year, this campaign will focus on the
tracking technologies researchers use
to learn about migratory routes, examine
the hazards birds face along these
journeys, and implement conservation
actions that will help migratory birds
along the way. “Birds Connect Our
World” will be celebrated around the
globe at schools, parks, zoos, wildlife
refuges, museums, libraries, and many
other locations.
Bird banding, satellite tracking, feather analysis, and
weather radar are some of the tools that provide us with
new details about bird migration.
For example, we knew that
the Arctic Tern, one of the twelve focal species for WMBD 2020,
has one of the longest migration, traveling as many as 25,800 miles
(40,000km) annually. A recent analysis using geolocators, however,
has revealed that this species may cover twice this distance each
year. “Birds Connect Our World” invites you to explore technology and
migration and to learn how you can help migratory birds along the way.
Tracking brings us back to the Whimbrel named Hope. After being
tracked for more than 50,000 miles, the hardy Whimbrel disappeared
in 2017, when Hurricane Maria struck St. Croix. Intense storms like
Maria, as well as pane-glass windows, plastic pollution, and loss of
habitat, are some of the factors that WMBD will touch on in 2020. Join
us for a spectacular year of learning and conservation!
Each year we work with biologists across the world to select a
conservation theme that describes a threat to migratory birds and
emphasizes the simple, but effective, ways that people of all ages can
help to reduce that threat.
We know that birds face many complex threats along their
incredible migration journeys every year. In 2020, the theme
Birds Connect Our World will highlight the many ways we
track and study bird migrations and how this information
may be used to inform conservation actions.
TAGS:
@EnvironmentfortheAmericas
@ EFTA _BirdDay
@ EFTA _BirdDay
Find more social media tools and icons at
migratorybirdday.org/resources
Meet the 2020 World
Migratory Bird Day Artist
6.
Sherrie York
Following a rigorous selection process, artist Sherrie York was selected to create
the art that reflects the 2020 conservation theme. A self-taught printmaker and
compulsive wanderer of landscapes, Sherrie York lives and works in Bristol, Maine.
Observation is the core of Sherrie’s work, whether she is sketching leaves collected
on a hike or carving a complex linocut block of waterbirds in their element. Her
linocuts have been presented in national and international exhibitions, including the
Woodson Art Museum’s prestigious Birds in Art, and the Society of Animal Artists’
Art & the Animal, and are represented in corporate and museum collections.
Contact Sherry about her work at: sy@sherrieyork.com
Join in sharing the 2020 theme using
Social Media Tools!
Post photos and share your creativity
through social media—and remember to tag us!
Through WMBD, everyone can learn about how we follow
birds using different tracking methods and analysis of migration.
TAG US AND OUR FRIENDS:
@efta_birdday
@bonnconvention
@worldmigratorybirdday
@eeafp
@unep
@usfws
HASH TAGS:
#BirdDay
# EFTA _BirdDay
#WMBD
#WMBD2020
#BirdsConnectOurWorld
#JourneysOfTheFlyways
#TrackingBirds
#BirdsKnowNoBorders
About Tracking Bird Migration
By exploring the ways we track bird mi-
gration, from geolocators and banding to
feather analysis and surveys, we can also
examine the threats birds face in their
migratory journeys and highlight the com-
munities on the ground that are working
to support them. Through WMBD, we can
all take action to protect our shared birds
and their habitats!
For centuries, birdwatchers contemplated why
so many birds disappeared from their homes
but are seen in other geographical areas. Be-
cause birds acquired very different plumages
and gained a lot of weight, the first naturalists
thought that the birds had not disappeared
but were transformed into other species. The
Greeks thought birds turned into fish over the
winter because they saw all birds flying towards
the open ocean. We tackle the 2020 WMBD
theme, sharing what is we know about the
history of bird migration, the tools and methods
involved to inform us of their journeys and des-
tinations, theoretical and evolutionary hypothe-
ses, and the major contributors in this exciting
field of ornithology.
Today, scientists use a variety of technologies
to explore the migration routes of many birds as
they move across different spatial and temporal
scales, either as part of their daily lives or as
part of seasonal migration. Along the way, birds
seek resources in different environments. At
the same time, they face natural disasters and
human-related risks on the ground and in the
skies. We know a lot more today than we did
long ago; however, a complete understanding of
how these precise navigational journeys work is
still a big challenge!
Example tracking methods that researchers
use to learn about bird migration.
BIRD BANDING: Bird researchers use metal bands, each with a unique code,
to identify individual birds. Each time a banded bird is captured, we learn more
about its age, health, and habitat use. Support and visit a local banding station
with ethical and scientific approaches to capturing and banding wild birds.
RADIO TELEMETRY: Radio telemetry uses electromagnetic radio waves to
determine a bird’s location. A transmitter is attached to a bird’s back, and an
antenna captures a radio signal. The receiver then transforms that signal into a
beeping sound that gets louder the closer it is to the transmitter. The signal indi-
cates that the bird is near. Automated radio telemetry systems have increased
the scale of detection without having to rely on individuals being recaptured.
WEATHER RADAR: We use weather radar every day to detect the movement of
drops of rain. It can also indicate the location of moving birds. Watch a tutorial
video for viewing nocturnal bird migration using radar on The National Center for
Atmospheric Research website: vimeo.com/2020985
LIGHT-LEVEL GEOLOCATORS: These tracking devices use daylight to estimate
location. From sunrise/sunset data, the relative time of noon and midnight is
determined to assess the geographic coordinates of migrant birds. However,
in the shade of a tree canopy, it can be difficult to determine what the sunrise
and sunset times are. Because they are lightweight and have a long battery life,
light-level geolocators are an excellent option for studying long distance
movements. Explore the sunrise and sunset times where you live and around
the world: esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/grad/solcalc
SATELLITE TAGS: Satellite tags attached to birds send signals to the satellites
that orbit the Earth and provide the accurate location of the bird. Researchers
only need to capture the bird once to affix the tag. There are 31 GPS satellites in
orbit that provide highly accurate location data. You use this data daily on your
smartphone to navigate to a restaurant and check traffic at rush hour.
CITIZEN SCIENCE: by sharing their observations, everyone can be part of our
efforts to learn about bird migration. Here are a few you can join:
• iNaturalist inaturalist.org Share your observations with other naturalists
and discuss your findings.
• Journey North journeynorth.org Track Hummingbirds are too small to carry tags,
so your observations are an important part of our understanding of their migration.
• Hummingbird Highway westernhummingbird.org/hummingbird-highway Share your
research, pollinator garden, and hummingbird-focused education activities on a map,
so that we can make connections to hummingbird conservation.
• eBird ebird.org Your bird sightings contribute to our awareness of migration across
the globe, plus you can keep a list of every bird you see and where you’ve seen it!
e incredible phenomenon of bird migration has always been an enticing topic among the world’s
ornithologists, as well as the general public. Birds fascinate and impress people of all ages because of their
extraordinary journeys. Although bird migration is a worldwide phenomenon, many people do not know how
scientists learn about birds’ routes and destinations, or how they use this knowledge to inform conservation.
7.
ACTIVITY 1 The Life Cycle of A Bird
Overview
The annual life cycle of birds is linked to the seasonal changes in their
food resources. Many birds migrate north as insects hatch, and
hummingbirds follow the opening of flowers, which provide the
nectar they need to survive.
Setup
Copy the blank life cycle wheels (next page) to use
with participants and the completed wheel to share as
an example. Have scissors (if you want participants
to cut out their wheels), crayons, colored pencils,
and other supplies to illustrate the wheels, as well as
the World Migratory Bird Day poster and/or the Focal
Species Fact Sheets (migratorybirdday.org/resources),
if you want to feature *one of* the 12 focal species.
Get Started
Allow visitors to make observations at your site. Invite
them to notice the vegetation, including leaf types,
flowers, and seeds. Are they present? What season is it?
Participants may choose to complete the wheel during
the month of your event, illustrating the plants and birds
that they see, or illustrate other months. Help them by
explaining that a migratory bird has two homes, one
where it nests, and another where it spends the rest of
the year. During the journey between these two places,
it may also have areas where it stops to rest and refuel.
Questions and Discussion
Learning about life cycles helps people understand phenology or the
timing of events, such as migration, insect hatches, and flowering.
The synchrony of these events can be critical to a bird’s survival.
1. What would happen if a bird migrated to a location when its food
wasn’t available?
2. What birds do you observe during these months?
3. If you picked a specific bird, what does this bird do each month
of the year (when does it
nest, migrate, winter)?
OBJECTIVES
• To learn about the life cycles of birds.
• To understand how the phenology or timing of events can aect a migratory bird’s success.
Materials
Time
30+ minutes
15+ minutes
Ages
Kindergarten to Adult
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8.
*Find Example Life Cycle Wheels here:
migratorybirdday.org/resources
partnersinplace.com/wheels-of-time-and-place
• Blank Life Cycle Wheel
• Example Life Cycle Wheels*
• Scissors
• Crayons
• Colored Pencils
• WMBD 2020 poster and focal species
ACTIVITY 1 The Life Cycle of A Bird (continued)
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9.
ACTIVITY 2 Tracking Bird Migration
Overview
This activity describes how researchers learn about birds and their migration using tracking devices, similar to devices
that help people find their keys, wallets, and other items. These “finders” use Bluetooth or Radio Frequency to track
objects, simulating the technologies that scientists use to learn about bird migration, such as radio telemetry.
Setup
Select a site in or outdoors where stuffed birds or images of birds can be hidden.
Before the time of activity, purchase as many tracking devices as you would like, such
as ones found at clickndig.com, eskynow.com, thetrackr.com, or others. Download
any required applications to a smartphone or tablet that participants may use to track
the birds. Hide the birds with the tracking devices attached to them! Most tracking
devices have a 100 ft (30.48 m) range, so keep that in mind when hiding the birds.
Also, introduce images (pictures) of conservation threats, such as; a cat, a glass
window, a storm, around the area where the birds are hidden.
Place the birds in locations around the area and get their latitude/longitude by using a
GPS unit or app, if you have one. You can also use the following free sites:
gps-coordinates.org, maps.ie/coordinates.html or Google Earth
This activity may be offered at a festival, school, or other programs or used with
small groups or individuals. It is only limited by the number of “finder” devices,
smartphones, and available tablets. At a festival, parents may be willing to download
the necessary app onto their phones.
Provide clear instructions about the goals of the activity. Teach them how to use
the app to find the birds. You may allow participants to find just one bird or more.
Participants will search for the birds with their phone/tablet in hand until there is
a beeping sound. The closer the individual is to the bird, the louder the sound will
become. Walk around the area (within the set boundaries) with the phone in hand,
until you hear a beeping noise. The tracker will beep as you get closer to the bird,
like a radio-telemetry bird tag!
Questions and Discussion
1. What birds have migrated to your area?
Will they stop there for just a short time
before continuing on their journeys or will
they stay for a longer time?
2. What does your area offer to a migratory
bird? Food? Water? Nesting sites?
3. What potential threats to migratory birds
do you notice in your area?
4. Were some birds easier to find? Why?
5. What challenges do you think
researchers face when
tracking birds?
OBJECTIVES
• To experience tracking birds using simple technology that simulates current research techniques.
• To learn about bird migration and the challenges birds face along the way.
Materials
• Stuffed birds or bird images
• Images of threats to birds
• Smartphone or Tablet
• Tracker devices:
•
clickndig.com
•
eskynow.com
•
thetrackr.com
• Optional items: Map of the area and/or GPS unit
Time
15+ minutes
Ages
Kindergarten to Adult
10.
Adapted with permission from Follow That Bird: A Science and Technology Unit on Tracking Birds by the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center and Friends of the National Zoo. Learn more at: nationalzoo.si.edu/migratory-birds/follow-bird
11.
ACTIVITY 3 Exploring Tracking Devices
Overview
With every technological advance,
tracking migratory birds becomes
easier, and the data more accurate.
Use the photos of birds and the images of
the tracking devices to learn how scientists
study migration. Enhance the education station
by inviting a researcher to share actual devices.
Setup
This activity may take place at a table. To add more
information, bring a scale that measures in grams and
some small items to weigh so that participants under-
stand the weight of the devices and the weight of birds.
Get Started
This activity helps participants understand the
technologies used to track bird migration, how
they work, and the information they gather. Some
gather more information than others, but sometimes
researchers seek different information. Have the Focal
Species Fact Sheet available. Distribute the tracking
device cards and read the facts about any of the
species. Have participants think about which tracking
device would be most appropriate to track that species
and why (weight/size or the bird, how high they fly,
distance traveled, etc.).
Questions and Discussion
Scientists must make decisions about how to conduct their research
based on a variety of factors. Participants can explore the tracking
devices by thinking like scientists.
1. Which tracking devices are the best for gathering information about
long-distance migration?
2. Which would be better to use on a bird that does not migrate
long distances, such as the Barn Owl?
OBJECTIVES
• To learn about tracking technologies.
• To explore dierent tracking devices and the information they gather.
Materials
• Tracking device cards
• Focal Species Fact Sheets, visit migratorybirdday.org/resources
• Scale (optional)
• Actual examples of tracking devices
Time
15+ minutes
Ages
3rd Grade to Adult
Adapted with permission from Follow That Bird: A Science and Technology Unit on Tracking Birds by the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center and Friends of the National Zoo. Learn more at: nationalzoo.si.edu/migratory-birds/follow-bird
ACTIVITY 3 Exploring Tracking Devices (continued)
BANDING
Metal bands, each with a different
number, or colored bands are
placed on a bird’s leg.
WHAT WE LEARN
Location of the bird, health, and size
LOCATION ACCURACY
Exact location because the bird must
be captured.
MINIMUM WEIGHT OF BIRD
Bands are made in sizes to fit most species,
even hummingbirds
HOW LONG THE DEVICE LASTS
Metal bands last for years, but color bands
fade and break
WEATHER RADAR
The same radar that gives us our
weather can detect birds, especially
when large numbers take flight.
WHAT WE LEARN
Location of the birds, preferred weather for
migration, number of individuals, direction and
speed of flight, and habitat use.
LOCATION ACCURACY
Detection of birds varies, but it indicates a general
location area.
MINIMUM WEIGHT OF BIRD
No device is necessary
HOW LONG THE DEVICE LASTS
As long as the weather station uses it!
GEOLOCATOR
A device fitted on a bird gathers
information about its movements
over large areas.
PHOTOS ©SMITHSONIAN
WHAT WE LEARN
By recording light, we can locate the bird
as it moves across large distances.
LOCATION ACCURACY
62 - 93 miles (100 - 150 km)
MINIMUM WEIGHT OF BIRD
8 grams
HOW LONG THE DEVICE LASTS
The device usually lasts for at
least one year and longer.
SATELLITE TAG
A transmitter attached to a bird’s
back sends its signal to an
orbiting satellite.
WHAT WE LEARN
A bird’s location across a broad
area as it migrates.
LOCATION ACCURACY
820 - 5000 feet (250 - 1500 meters)
MINIMUM WEIGHT OF BIRD
117 grams
HOW LONG THE DEVICE LASTS
The device may last for just months
to more than one year.
Cut on dashed lines
12.
PHOTO CREDIT: © SHERRI AND BROCK FENTON
LONG POINT BIRD OBSERVATORY
RADIO TELEMETRY
A radio transmitter fitted on a bird
sends a signal about its location.
A receiver picks up these signals
as “beeping” sounds.
PHOTO BY AUDUBON AND THE SMITHSONIAN
WHAT WE LEARN
Location of the bird and habitat use.
LOCATION ACCURACY
A bird may be detected within 33 feet
(10 meters), even if you can’t see it.
MINIMUM WEIGHT OF BIRD
6.6 grams or a little heavier than a nickel
HOW LONG THE DEVICE LASTS
A few weeks to several months
CITIZEN SCIENCE
People can help to track birds by
recording their observations.
WHAT WE LEARN
A bird’s location, its behavior,
habitat, and more!
LOCATION ACCURACY
Exact location
MINIMUM WEIGHT OF BIRD
Not required
HOW LONG THE DEVICE LASTS
The lifetime of the citizen scientist.
Adapted with permission from Follow That Bird: A Science and Technology Unit on Tracking Birds by the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center and Friends of the National Zoo. Learn more at: nationalzoo.si.edu/migratory-birds/follow-bird
13.
Post photos and share
your creativity through
social media—and tag us!
ACTIVITY 4 Make a Bird Mask
Overview
Learn about the WMBD 2020 focal bird species and create a mask inspired by
one of them. Discuss the threats they face and what actions we can take to help
protect them. Use a bird identification guide to help inspire your mask.
Setup
If you plan to work with multiple ages, be sure you have a table that is appropriate for
shorter participants. This activity can be messy, especially if you have lots of fun items
that can be used to decorate the masks. Consider covering your tables with butcher
paper to prevent stray marks from crayons, glue, and especially permanent markers.
Get Started
Mask making is an interactive and creative way to connect young people to birds.
Using the 12 bird species on the 2020 World Migratory Bird Day poster, you can
share the incredible diversity of feathers, beaks, and eyes as participants create their
own masks. From the long-billed Bar-tailed Godwit to the tiny Calliope Hummingbird,
the species illustrate the many ways birds find food, find mates, and more. To
incorporate the conservation theme and the different ways we track bird migration,
integrate a conversation about how we can learn about threats these birds face along
their journeys and what actions we can take to help protect them.
Questions and Discussion
Creating bird art requires focus and brings
attention to details. While your participants are
at work or after the activity, you can ask them:
1. Did you notice aspects of the bird’s face
that you did not see before?
2. Why did you choose this bird?
What attracted you to this particular species?
OBJECTIVES
• To examine birds in the 2020 World Migratory Bird Day artwork or in your area.
• To learn about bird characteristics.
Materials*
Time
30+ minutes
Ages
Kindergarten to Adult
• Mask
• Scissors
• Glue
• Crayons
• Markers
• Paint
• Other decorative items
• Popsicle sticks
*BIRD MASK TEMPLATES
Don’t want to make your own bird masks? Purchase pre-cut masks for a group or class at migratorybirdday.org/shop
• String
• Bird identification guide
• WMBD 2020 poster
• Table
@EnvironmentForTheAmericas
@EFTA_BirdDay
#BirdDay
#WorldMigratoryBirdDay
#WMBD2020
#BirdsConnectOurWorld
DON’T
FORGET
ACTIVITY 5 Be a Bander
Overview
This activity illustrates how scientists band birds so they can track
how far they travel and how long they live. You will do this
without live birds, a formal bird-banding station, the need
to wake up early in the morning, or a field site!
Setup
You are a bird scientist and have already ethically and properly
captured a bird (your friends with their bird masks from the previous
activity). You are ready to take and record their measurements. Have
your materials available, including your metal rings and the Collector
Data Sheet to be filled out.
14.
1. NAME/INITIALS: Write the name or initials of the “bird” (friend)
you are measuring. Before banding a bird, it must be identified.
2. BAND NUMBER: Write the number of your metal ring. This code
is unique, and we don’t want to make mistakes and confuse
individuals when analyzing the data.
3. DATE: Write the exact date. Birds can quickly move far away at any
time of the year.
4. TIME: Write the exact time of your observation. Birds partake in
different activities during the day or night.
5. AGE: Write the age (or estimated age) of the “bird” you are banding.
6. WEIGHT: Use a weight scale to calculate this value, or estimate
the weight of the “bird” you are banding.
7. WINGSPAN: Using a measuring tape, take the measurement from
your friend’s left middle fingertip to their right middle finger, with both
their arms stretching out horizontally. This is the same way a bander
measures a bird’s wingspan in the field. (see photo, right)
How to Measure Wingspan
Measure wing length from the
shoulder to the wing tip.
Get Started
As you band your friend, tying the metal ring with a string around his/her
wrist, complete the form using these instructions:
Refer to Collector Data Sheet on page 16.
Metal Bands
ACTIVITY 5 Be a Bander (continued)
15.
OBJECTIVES
• To understand the steps scientists take when banding birds.
• To learn about advantages and disadvantages of bird banding as a tracking method.
Materials
• Measuring Tape
• Bird Bands
• String
• Scale
• Collector Data Sheet
• Pen or Pencil
Time
Varies depending on how
the activity is conducted.
Ages
All ages
Questions and Discussion
1. Why do you think it is important to record all this
information when banding a bird?
2. What are some benefits and problems with this
method of tracking birds?
BIRD OBSERVATORIES EXIST ALL OVER
THE WORLD
, and they provide visitors with
a variety of activities, including guided day-trips,
education about the operation of bird banding stations,
local bird species, and best practices in bird research.
Combine these activities with the possibility of visiting
a real bird banding station. Don’t know how to nd a
bird observatory? Visit birdobservatories.com and nd
out where to nd one anywhere in the world!
READ ABOUT BANDING BIRDS BEFORE
YOUR ACTIVITIES; YOUNG PEOPLE ARE
VERY INTERESTED IN THIS TOPIC!
You
can check all available recommendations from North
American Banding Council on NABANDING.NET and
nd dierent methods that ornithologists use to track
dierent groups of birds, including Hummingbirds,
Passerines, Raptors, and Waterfowls.
NAME/ BAND DATE TIME AGE WEIGHT WING LENGTH
INITIALS NUMBER
Collector Data Sheet
ACTIVITY 5 Be a Bander (continued)
16.
ACTIVITY 6
Mapping the Canada Warbler’s Migration
17.
Overview
This activity introduces participants to latitude and longitude and the use of maps
to track bird migration. Each geographic coordinate represents a place where a
specific Canada Warbler stopped during its migration journey. By plotting the
coordinates on a map, you can visualize the warbler’s migration route!
Setup
1. Refer to the range map of the winter and breeding
ranges of the Canada Warbler. Canada Warblers are
generally found in their winter range from November to
February and summer range from June to July.
2. Explain the definitions of latitude and longitude:
Questions and Discussion
For each warbler, describe the migration pattern:
1. Where did the bird’s migration start?
2. What path did it follow to Central America?
3. Over what countries did the warbler fly?
4. What were the northern- and southernmost points
of its migration?
5. Was there a common transition point shared by the birds?
OBJECTIVES
• To learn about latitudes and longitudes and how to use them to track bird migration.
Materials
• Map of the Western Hemisphere with latitudes and longitudes
• Colored pens/pencils
Time
30+ minutes
Ages
9 years – Adult
Get Started
1. Refer to the data on page 18 for the two migrating warblers. Plot the
coordinates in each of the warbler’s migration routes on the map by
drawing a dot at that location and writing the date next to it.
2. After the coordinates have been plotted, draw a line on the map
connecting all the dots in chronological order. Use different colored
pens/pencils to transfer the data for each warbler to the map. Participants
will need to know that they should use different colors before they start
adding points to the map.
LATITUDE: geographical
coordinate that specifies the
north-south position on the
Earth’s surface.
LONGITUDE: geographical
coordinate which specifies the
east-west position on the
Earth’s surface.
Map: Cooper, J. M., Enns,
K. A., & Shepard, M. G. (1997)
Canada Warbler
Range Map
ACTIVITY 6
Mapping the Canada Warbler’s Migration (continued)
Geographic Coordinates for Tracking the Canada Warbler
18.
BIRD “A” CANADA WARBLER #36260
DATE LAT LONG LOCATION BY:
B 06/30/18 53.8760° N 94.6265° W Garden Hill, Manitoba, Canada
07/07/18 51.6298° N 85.9452° W Ogoki, Ontario, Canada
08/01/18 41.4203° N 78.7286° W Ridgway, Pennsylvania, USA
F 09/30/18 29.9240° N 90.1126° W New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
10/06/18 19.4326° N 99.1332° W Mexico City, Mexico
10/30/18 14.0391° N 83.3950° W Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua
W 11/30/18 8.7122° N 71.4365° W La Azulita, Merida, Venezuela
01/28/19 10.9360° S 73.6008° W Sierra de Santa Marta, Colombia
03/01/19 3.4063° S 78.5718° W Gualaquiza, Morona Santiago, Ecuador
S 04/30/19 8.5503° N 80.3547° W Penonomé, Coclé, Panama
05/05/19 13.4326° N 87.4554° W San Lorenzo, Valle, Honduras
05/13/19 19.8301° N 90.5349° W Campeche, Campeche, Mexico
BIRD “B” CANADA WARBLER #47371
DATE LAT LONG LOCATION BY:
B 06/25/19 48.8053° N 79.2029° W La Sarre, Quebec, Canada
07/17/19 43.4392° N 70.7743° W Sanford, Maine, USA
08/07/19 41.7248° N 73.4770° W Kent, Connecticut, USA
F 09/13/19 36.1627° N 86.7816° W Nashville, Tennessee, USA
10/26/19 29.7604° N 95.3698° W Houston, Texas, USA
10/04/19 17.0732° N 96.7266° W Oaxaca, Mexico
W 11/12/19 7.7283° N 80.8226° W Chepo, Herrera, Panama
01/28/19 3.4516° N 76.5320° W Cali, Valle del Cauca, Colombia
03/07/19 7.1617° S 78.5128° W Cajamarca Quechua, Peru
S 04/21/19 10.6346° N 85.4407° W Liberia, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
05/15/19 14.5573° N 90.7332° W Antigua, Guatemala
05/19/19 19.0414° N 98.2063° W Puebla, Mexico
B = Breeding F = Fall Migration W = Wintering S = Spring Migration
ACTIVITY 6
Mapping the Canada Warbler’s Migration (continued)
19.
ACTIVITY 7 Helping at Home
Overview
It is important to offer participants ways that they can help birds at home. This activity explores some of the
hazards birds face and also actions we can take to reduce these hazards. Using the suggestions below, display a
variety of items that are harmful to birds and describe their negative impacts. Then, provide visitors with solutions
to reduce these impacts.
PLATE-GLASS
SHOW: A piece of plate-glass Demonstrate
that plate-glass windows are easy to see
through but can reflect the surrounding
trees. Birds see the reflected trees instead
of the glass and can fly into the glass.
IMPACTS: One out of every two window
strikes may result in the death of the bird.
WAYS TO HELP: Place streamers made
of ribbon, string, or yarn on your windows
using cup hooks. Or make bird silhouettes
or other decorations that will break up the
reflective expanse of glass.
OBJECTIVES
• To demonstrate the many human-related hazards birds face.
• To motivate participants to reduce the impact of these hazards on birds.
Materials
• Piece of plate-glass
• Household chemicals/pesticides
• Pictures of pets
• Dirty bird feeder
• Noxious weed/non-native plants
Time
30+ minutes
Ages
All Ages
CHEMICALS
SHOW: Lawn chemicals, household chemicals,
pesticides, and herbicides. Be sure the
containers are well-sealed!
IMPACTS: Researchers estimate that almost
70 million birds die from exposure to pesticides
each year. Chemicals may also impact bird
reproduction and behavior.
WAYS TO HELP: Use natural products in your
house and on your lawn that you can make
or purchase. Properly dispose of chemicals,
though, check with your local authorities if you
aren’t sure of how to do this.
CATS AND DOGS
SHOW: Pictures of pets. They may be your own.
IMPACTS: Domestic cats kill hundreds of millions
of birds each year. Dogs chase wildlife, though no
estimates are available on the extent of damage
free-roaming dogs cause.
WAYS TO HELP: Keep pets indoors, mainly when
birds are nesting and/or if you have a bird-feeder.
DIRTY BIRD-FEEDERS
SHOW: Dirty seed and/or nectar feeder(s) as
well as clean feeders.
IMPACTS: Dirty feeders may help to spread
diseases. Because birds congregate at feeders,
diseases may spread easily and quickly.
WAYS TO HELP: Clean feeders regularly. Mix
one part liquid chlorine household bleach
into nine parts lukewarm water. Immerse your
feeders in the solution entirely for two to three
minutes, then air dry.
NON-NATIVE PLANTS
SHOW: Noxious weeds and other non-native
plants common in your area.
IMPACTS: Noxious weeds spread rapidly, often
out-competing native plants. Though wildlife
may like some, others offer no benefits.
WAYS TO HELP: Plant native flowers, trees,
and shrubs in your yard. They are beautiful
and are appreciated by many kinds of wildlife.
20.
NOXIOUS WEEDS: Please use examples of noxious
weeds from your area.
21.
ACTIVITY 8 Plastic Cleanup
Overview
Hosting a plastic cleanup is an effective way of sharing the enormity of plastic
pollution, one of the many threats birds face in their migration journeys. Your
WMBD cleanup can be fun and help to protect birds!
Planning Your Cleanup
Pick a location. Choose a location that has easy access,
sufficient parking, and requires a cleanup.
Identify the property owner and obtain permission.
Landowners may be a private, city, or a national park
or wildlife refuge. It is essential to have the proper
permissions before you begin to plan your event.
Choose a date and a time. Check with cooperating
partners to determine an appropriate time to schedule
your event.
Determine how garbage will be picked up and disposed
of properly. Talk with your city’s waste disposal company
or learn where the city dump is located, when it is open,
and how much it costs to dispose of garbage.
Limit the number of participants, especially if this is
your first clean up and you have limited assistance.
We recommend a first-time event that has no more than
30-50 participants
Visit your site before hosting the activity to be sure
that no hazards are present.
Address Safety Issues
SAFETY COMES FIRST! Keeping your staff, volunteers, and
participants safe is absolutely crucial.
Require volunteers to sign a waiver of liability for your own
protection and to emphasize the importance of safety.
Examine your cleanup location. Is it close to a road or dangerous
machinery? You may need to mark restricted areas where your volunteers should
not collect plastic. If the site is near vehicles and/or roads, provide bright or
reflective clothing, or safety vests, and/or set boundaries.
Familiarize yourself with plants and animals at the site that could pose potential
safety hazards. For example, is poison ivy or oak present? Could venomous snakes
be present? Most sites will have items that could be hazardous if not handled
correctly, such as injured or dead wildlife, sharp items including broken glass,
toxic materials such as cleaning products and batteries, and other items such as
hypodermic needles. Only participants with the required safety equipment and who
are trained and experienced should remove these items.
Require participants to wear appropriate clothing during the cleanup, including
closed-toed shoes and the recommended gloves.
Note any boundaries that volunteers should be aware of. Be sure participants
don’t wander onto private property, into areas where they could become lost, or
areas where they could become separated from the group.
Never burn plastic or other trash, which can result in toxic smoke and potentially
spread a fire. Work with your city or other partners to ensure that you can properly
dispose of the garbage.
RECRUIT PARTICIPANTS
Identify your target audience and the
number of people you want to participate in.
e more people you invite, the more help
you will need to organize and managing
your cleanup. e age of your participants
will also aect the organization. For exam-
ple, you may want more supervision if you
are working with youth.
RECRUITING TIPS TO GET YOU STARTED
• Work with a group you already know. is may include scouts, a senior group,
an environmental or bird club, or a neighborhood.
• Ask participants to RSVP so that you can be sure your numbers don’t exceed
your capacity to safely manage the activity.
• Recruit local conservation organizations and clubs.
• Make and distribute event iers around your community and/or neighborhood
to increase participation if your event is open to the public.
• Incorporate your activity into other WMBD events.
• Unless you are working with a youth group, determine the minimum age at
which children may participate without an adult supervisor.
22.
ACTIVITY 8 Plastic Cleanup (continued)
Plan Day-of-Event Timing
Develop a detailed schedule of the cleanup to organize
the day and ensure you complete all of your activities.
The schedule should include the following times:
1. Setup before participants arrive.
2. Instructing participants and distributing materials,
equipment, and data forms.
3. Cleanup start and finish.
4. Gathering equipment from participants.
5. Pickup of garbage by the city, natural area, or
other partner.
Have Fun!
There are several ways to make your event more fun,
but they will require planning ahead.
Give rewards. You can acknowledge the team that
has the heaviest bag, the team that collects the most
garbage, and the team that finds the most interesting or
unusual item.
Take plenty of photos and post them on social media.
Have a dinner or other wrap-up after the cleanup to
celebrate your accomplishments.
Day of Event
Event Setup
1. Arrive before the participants.
2. Set up sign-in, water, snack, and shade stations.
3. Place signage to identify stations, such as First Aid and Registration.
4. Organize the supplies (gloves, garbage bags, and data forms) so that
they are easy to distribute. Place gloves into one container, garbage bags
into another, and data forms on clipboards with a pencil into a third.
5. Put up any boundaries required for hazards or restricted areas.
6. If your community recycles, plan to have participants separate their
items into bags for recycling and bags for trash.
End of Day
1. Properly dispose of all garbage and recyclables.
2. Inspect the site to ensure that all of your supplies and equipment
have been removed.
Aer the Event
1. Thank the cleanup volunteers and sponsors.
2. Compile Data. If you have an event coordinator, have him/her gather volunteer
data forms, compile the data, and submit online.
3. Enter your cleanup data at www.migratorybirdday.org/events and select the
Submit Cleanup Data.
4. When naming your cleanup event, please precede the name with
WMBD-, such as WMBD-Clear Creek.
5. As with the cleanup data, if there is a coordinator, the bird observations
should be compiled. Submit your bird observations to eBird, using the
account: EFTA_Birdday The password is: WMBD2019DMAM
OBJECTIVES
• To engage your community, hands-on, in an action that helps to protect birds.
• To demonstrate plastic pollution in our environment.
• To motivate participants to reduce their plastic use.
Materials
• Protective gloves
• Garbage bags
• Data Form, visit migratorybirdday.org/resources
Time
3 - 6 hours
Ages
8 years – Adult
NEED CLEANUP SUPPLIES?
Visit migratorybirdday.org/shop
to purchase a Family or Group Cleanup Kit
ACTIVITY 9
World Migratory Bird Day 2020 Matching Game
AMERICAN KESTREL (Falco sparverius)
• This small falcon often perches on utility lines.
• Researchers use feather analysis, color bands, and
geolocators to track kestrels.
• Its weight equals about 34 pennies.
PURPLE MARTIN (Progne subis)
• It forages on insects in the air. Declines in insect populations
impact the decreasing numbers of this large swallow.
• Weather radar has helped researchers locate this
species, especially when birds gathers in large flocks
on migration.
FORK-TAILED FLYCATCHER (Tyrannus savana)
• Males have long tails, shaped like scissors.
• This flycatcher feeds on insects and is often seen in
grasslands from Mexico to Argentina.
• Geolocators are now helping us to understand flycatcher
migration in South America.
WESTERN SANDPIPER (Calidris mauri)
• Hundreds of thousands gather during migration.
• This bird forages by walking slowly through mudflats and
pecking or probing for small prey.
• Threatened by tundra fragmentation, coastal
development, loss of habitat and wetlands acidification.
• Scientists use colored bands and citizen science data
to learn about this shorebird’s migration between Alaska
and South America.
ARCTIC TERN (Sterna paradisaea)
• This tern is the world’s migration champion. It flies
around the planet twice in a single year—over
37,000 miles (59,500 km).
• Miniature geolocators weighing 1.4 grams—about
the same as a paperclip—are used to track terns.
CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD (Selasphorus calliope)
• This hummingbird is the smallest bird on its nesting sites in the
United States and Canada—only 3 inches long!
• Understanding this bird’s migration between its nesting sites
in Canada and the United States and its overwintering sites in
Mexico depends on observations made by citizen scientist.
• Calliope means “beautiful voice.”
BAIRD’S SPARROW (Centronyx bairdii)
• This small brown bird uses overgrown fields and grasslands
to find seeds and insects and to nest.
• Banding analysis are helping us learn about this species,
whose numbers are declining.
• Ranchers provide important protection for this sparrow by
conserving its habitat.
BARN OWL (Tyto alba)
• Radio tags and geolocators share information about
where this owl hunts.
• Its dish-shaped face helps it to locate rodents at night.
• Habitat loss, prey poisoned with pesticides, and collisions
with cars are threats.
BAR-TAILED GODWIT (Limosa lapponica)
• Satellite transmitters revealed that this godwit holds the
world record for non-stop flight, 11,000 km in 8 days.
• Godwits are waders that use their long bills to probe for
food, including snails, worms, and clam in mudflats.
CA NADA WA RBLE R (Cardellina canadensis)
• Numbers of this yellow warbler are declining; it is threatened
with extinction in Canada.
• Scientists in Canada and Colombia use small tags attached
to warblers’ backs to track them from nest sites in Canada
to northern South America.
NORTHERN PINTAIL (Anas acuta)
• Ducks carrying satellite transmitters help us understand their
migratory routes around the world.
• Pintails are threatened by human competition for water and
agricultural activities that affect nesting and habitat.
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT (Icteria virens)
• Banding and genetic analysis help us learn about migration
from the U.S. and Canada to Mexico and Central America.
• At 7.5 in (19 cm), this is the largest warbler!
IMPORTANT NOTE:
Before starting Activity 7, you must make copies of this page.
Provide one copy for each participant in the Matching Game.
Cut on dashed lines
23.
24.
ACTIVITY 9
World Migratory Bird Day 2020 Matching Game (continued)
Overview
Explore the characteristics of the birds on the 2020 WMBD poster by playing this simple matching game.
Setup
Preparing this activity couldn’t be simpler. Print the bird
images and descriptions. Printing on card stock creates
durable game pieces that can be used many times.
Then, cut out each bird image and description.
Get Started
Place the bird images and descriptions on a table. Participants match the
descriptions to the images of the birds. This activity does not require any bird
identification knowledge. Use the descriptions to lead discussions about
migration, the threats bird face on their journeys, and how we can help the birds.
Materials
• Copies of bird characteristics cutouts (page 23)
• Bird image cutouts • Table
TIME
As long as participants
want to play!
AGES
Kindergarten - Adult
Cut on dashed lines
OBJECTIVES
• Learn facts about each of the birds on the 2020 WMBD poster.
• Compare characteristics of dierent bird species.