Local activism is at the heart of effective
conservation, and it’s what International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD) is
all about. Created in 1993 by the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center,
IMBD was designed to be Partners in Flight’s keystone education program.
The annual event is now coordinated by Environment for the Americas and
has gained widespread popularity, hosted by over 450 organizations
throughout the Western Hemisphere.
Many of the public and private agencies that
are active in PIF serve as primary sponsors of IMBD. As PIF celebrates
its bird conservation efforts over the last 20 years, IMBD is the ideal
avenue for sharing these accomplishments on an international stage. In
honor of PIF’s 20th Anniversary, the IMBD 2010 conservation theme
focused on "The Power of Partnerships in Bird Conservation."
IMBD’s
continued success is evident in its impressive growth. From 2008 to
2009, the number of events increased by 23%. In 2010, distribution of
materials already had grown by at least 7%, meaning that over 20,000
annual education booklets and 40,000 posters were distributed before the
official event date of May 8.
