The Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF). has canvassed for the promotion of birds for conservation in commemoration of World Bird Migratory Day.
The world bird migratory day is an annual event used to raise awareness on bird migration and the importance of protecting the flyways and habitats utilised by birds while they are migrating.
Migration is a regular and seasonal movement of birds between their breeding sites and their wintering sites. The North to the Southern ends of Nigeria always host these wintering birds, thus, in addition to raising awareness for protecting habitats for resident birds, we must also do same for these migrants.
This year’s theme, “UNIFYING OUR VOICES FOR BIRD CONSERVATION”, is a clarion call to action for all to participate in bird conservation. The Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), the BirdLife International Partner in Nigeria, will be celebrating this event in Omo Forest Reserve, Ogun State, South-west Nigeria.
Omo Forest was chosen because it is an internationally recognised Important Bird Area (IBA) and also because NCF has selected it as a pilot site for the common bird monitoring scheme which will begin soon. It is also habitat to some European migrants like the Wood Warbler (Phylloscopus sibilatrix) and the Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica).
The event will hold from the 10th to 11th of May 2018 and feature activities such as visits to communities within the forest, creating awareness among the residents, bird watching expedition, and activities by invited student members of the Omo Bird Club.
This event is hosted by Omo-Shasha-Oluwa Forest Elephant Initiative, with support from the German Federal Ministry for the Environment and NABU-BirdLife in Germany.