Eurobirdwatch counts 2.5 million migrants
BirdLife's Eurobirdwatch 2014 event saw tens of thousands of Europeans count 2.5 million migratory birds earlier this month.
On the weekend of 4–5 October, over 23,000 people took part in the exciting annual nature event, Eurobirdwatch. From Portugal to Kazakhstan, from Malta to Norway, BirdLife invited people of all ages and backgrounds to observe the inspiring migration of birds, and count them for use as 'citizen science' data. Over the two-day weekend event more than 2.5 million birds were logged as they passed through Europe and Central Asia en route to their wintering grounds.
In autumn, migratory birds leave the northern climes where they breed in spring and summer and head to their wintering grounds in the south. The migration of millions of birds of many different species is a spectacle that BirdLife International says it wants everyone to have the opportunity to witness.
Eurobirdwatch was created to monitor the first weekend of October, when migration reaches its peak, and BirdLife and the various partner organisations in each country organise a range of birdwatching events throughout Europe and Central Asia, to encourage children, families, birders and the simply curious to join them and enjoy identifying and counting the birds. This year was the 21st anniversary of the event, and about 900 individual sessions were organised by BirdLife's partners in 40 countries. The most frequently seen species were Starling, Coot and Mallard.
Over the years, Eurobirdwatch has increased its success, attracting ever-growing numbers of participants. This year, the Diplomatic Core in Montenegro, the British Ambassador in Uzbekistan, the US Ambassador, the Deputy Minister of Nature Protection and special representatives of NGOs in Armenia, as well as the Minister for Health and the Environment in Gibraltar all took part.
To see more information about and photos of the individual events and highlights in every country and photos of the 21st Eurobirdwatch at www.eurobirdwatch.eu.
