Statement by Mr. Ian Redmond on World Migratory Bird Day 2019

The sounds of Spring are here – chiff-chaffs and cuckoos call in the woods and corn crakes crake in the fields.  Soon, swallows and swifts will be swooping overhead to mark the start of Summer.  Migratory birds play such an important part in our cultural heritage, marking the seasons, they should incentivise to protect habitat in their winter quarters.   We think of them as British and European birds, and put up nest-boxes and protect habitat here, but for half the year these same birds are flying over apes and elephants in the Congo Basin or lions and gazelles in the savannah-woodlands of East and southern Africa.  Exciting research using geolocators has revealed more precisely which species winter where, and the flyways they use to get there.   This makes it clear where the action plans agreed under the Convention on Migratory Species need to be fully implemented.    World Migratory Bird Day reminds us all to ensure these iconic harbingers of spring and summer thrive in the face of new challenges brought about by climate change.