Who Pays the Birds???

August 2013

News from the Flyway

Fall IMBD Events Expand on Wintering Grounds

International Migratory Bird Day programs and events have more than tripled in the Caribbean, Mexico, Honduras, and Colombia, thanks to the work of a team of coordinators. Coordinators are responsible for recruiting new sites, communicating with event organizers, and hosting their own activities. All of the coordinators work as both biologists and educators in their countries and have considerable knowledge to share with partners and participants. Over 30 organizations are hosting fall programs that highlight the importance of non-breeding grounds to the survival of migratory birds. From left to right are Sheylda Díaz (Puerto Rico), Anthony Levesque (Guadeloupe), Juan Pablo Medina (Mexico), Fabiola Rodriguez (Honduras), Alejandro Pinto (Colombia), and Ingrid Flores (Puerto Rico). Not pictured is Rafael Cruz (Mexico). Thanks to all!

IMBD 2014 - It's a Bird's Life

IMBD 2014 focal species will be featured in steel drum art from Haiti

IMBD 2014 focuses on the ecosystem services birds provide, from pest control to seed dispersal and pollination. The art will feature 9 species of birds selected by YOU. These include Great Egret, Turkey Vulture, and American Robin.

Why do Birds Matter? or Birds - Working for Free! These are two suggested 2014 theme slogans. Help us choose or make a suggestion.

Vote for the IMBD 2014 Slogan

What does an American Robin do for the environment? Visit our web site as we add new information about the 2014 theme.

American Robin and Seed Dispersal

Many thanks to our Migratory Bird Day 2013 Sponsors

Title Sponsors Program Sponsors

IMBD

Partners

Birds & Beans Coffee * Birdzilla * Get to Know

Gold Crest Distributing * Pepco Holdings, Inc.

Optics for the Tropics * Ornilux * U.S. Geological Survey

IMBD Regional Partners

Nature Canada

Society for the Conservation & Study of Caribbean Birds

Russ Greenberg Receives Kudos

Russ Greenberg at the Greenberg Innovations Session

At the 2013 meeting of the American Ornithologists' Union, EFTA Board Member Russ Greenberg was presented with the Elliott Coues Award. Named for one of the great pioneers of American ornithology, the Coues Award recognizes outstanding and innovative contributions to ornithological research. And it's a very big deal. Russ is a phenomenal ornithologist, and his deep and extensive knowledge gave International Migratory Bird Day a firm foundation right from the start.

In September, 80 friends, former students, and colleagues, including EFTA, gathered in Maryland for the Greenberg Innovations Sessions to honor Russ's deep and broad academic legacy. This warm and rich event featured presentations on current avian research, food, and festivities.

Congratulations to Russ and our appreciation for his contributions to Environment for the Americas!

Feature Resource: The Junco Project

Juncos are common, abundant, and easily observed. They are also very diverse, and the species, subspecies and races exhibit different behaviors, feather colors, and body shapes and sizes. The Junco project was created after years of research on this species. The online materials include videos, teacher and student materials and study questions to help participants explore junco research in-depth.

The Junco Project

The Bird Education Resource Directory is the place for you to find materials and to share your ideas with others. It's easy, it's free, and it's the best place to go to find what other educators are using to teach about bird conservation.

Bird Education Resource Directory

Odds & Ends

Hawk Mountain is hiring a Director of Education to develop, direct, coordinate, and implement Hawk Mountain Sanctuary educational programs. For a full job description, contact Jerry Regan at davenport@hawkmountain.org

Focus on Diversity is hosting its 3rd conference in McAllen, Texas November 4-6, 2013. The event promotes effective outreach to diverse audiences.

Changing the Face of American Birding

Join EFTA at the Association of Science-Technology Centers for a presentation of its diversity work on Monday, October 21st in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Email: bday@birdday.org
Web: www.birdday.org
Phone: 1.866.334.3330

Internships Prepare Youth for Natural Resource Careers

Diversity Outreach Toolkit
Event Participation

EFTA's Internship program is successful in providing Latino youth the training and hands-on experience they need to pursue higher education and careers in natural resources.

Intern responses to the program include the following:

My overall knowledge on birds in general increased dramatically..

This internship very much influenced my career goals...

Field work was hard work but seeing thousands of shorebirds during surveys made it worth it.

EFTA will be hiring 8 Latino interns ages 18 - 25 years for the 2014 season. Please contact Natasha Kerr for more information.

Natasha Kerr at nkerr@birdday.org

Visit the project at:

Connecti ng Cultures

IMBD Themes:
Past & Present

Bird Day Event Ideas

Connecting Cultures

IMBD FAQs

...is brought to you by Environment for the Americas, home of International Migratory Bird Day. Learn more at www.birdday.org