Statement by Dr Rob Clay on World Migratory Bird Day 2021

Over the past year, lockdowns have meant no travel, local or global, to connect with family and friends. Yet migratory birds have continued to connect us. I recently wished a wistful goodbye to swallows departing their non-breeding grounds in Paraguay, knowing that they will soon be bringing joy, as harbingers of spring, to friends in North America. In an overly busy world, my one connection to some is a short note, “the swallows are back”. World Migratory Bird Day celebrates how birds connect and inspire us, helping to reveal the deep connections between human endeavours and the natural world, and ultimately, how intertwined our futures are.