On Saturday May 9, 2026, World Migratory Bird Day will spotlight the important role of community science (also referred to as citizen science) in the conservation of migratory birds.
Under the theme “Every Bird Counts – Your Observations Matter!”, the 2026 campaign focuses on how individual observations and participation in community science programs help generate knowledge that supports science, conservation, and policy-making across the world’s flyways.
World Migratory Bird Day 2026 is a global awareness-raising campaign highlighting the role of community science in migratory bird conservation.
The World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD), an international educational and awareness-raising campaign that promotes conservation efforts for migratory birds and their journeys across borders, is organised by a global partnership consisting of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA), the East Asian–Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP), and Environment for the Americas (EFTA).
Around the globe, hundreds of events are planned locally, including community/citizen science projects, bird walks, awareness-raising activities, workshops, monitoring efforts, volunteer actions and other public events that reflect the campaign’s message and showcase how local participation contributes to global bird conservation.
From backyard bird observations registered via apps to coordinated international monitoring efforts, people around the world contribute valuable information on migratory birds, their movements, their habitats, and the pressures they face. These observations help track migration patterns, population trends, and changes across flyways, strengthening the evidence base needed to better conserve migratory birds across borders.
The 2026 theme also highlights how participation in bird monitoring can deepen people’s connection to nature and strengthen public engagement in conservation. This year’s campaign is especially timely as it coincides with the 60th anniversary of the International Waterbird Census, providing an opportunity to recognise one of the longest-running international bird monitoring efforts and the wider importance of volunteer-based observations worldwide.
Potential media angles include how community science is helping build the knowledge needed to conserve migratory birds across borders; how local bird observation contributes to a larger picture of migration across continents; the people and communities behind bird monitoring efforts worldwide; and how apps and platforms are opening new ways for the general public to take part in bird conservation by identifying and recording birds in ways that support science and conservation action across flyways.
Celebrated on two days each year (in 2026, on May 9 and October 10) to reflect the cyclical nature of bird migration and the varying peak migration periods in the northern and southern hemispheres, WMBD triggers hundreds of educational events around the world, united by their common goal of raising awareness and advocating for international bird protection.