Summary report on World Migratory Bird Day 2006 (12 April 2006, MM) What was planned by the BirdLife Partners (funded through the Small Grants Fund from the Royal Netherlands Embassy Nairobi):
Partner / country
BirdLife Botswana, Botswana
Date
8 April and beyond
Activities
Planned was: 1. A press release on WMBD for Botswana media 2. At least 10 popular articles on migrating birds 3. At least 100 t-shirts on migratory birds printed (using on goingchildren’s competition ) 4. At least 50 teachers to be exposed to issues around migrating birds, with ideas on activities they could do with their students once back in class 5. Two portable display stands (roller banners) on migrating birds, incorporating the WMBD, AEWA, BirdLife International and BirdLife Botswana logos to be produced for the Gaborone and Maun offices, and put up at the respective offices all year round 6. A talk and video show to Ecology/Conservation Biology students University of Botswana on the subject of migrating birds – likely in the form of a popular bird movie e.g. Winged Migration or March of the Penguin Planned was/is: Saturday 8/04 6 Am: CBCS members in 4 teams leave for birdwatching; they have with them the check list of the migratory birds of Cameroon ( 218 species). During the excursion all birds that will be observed will be ticked on the check list. 11 Am: Return to CBCS office, cross check and agree with all members the birds identified. The new list including information from Bamenda Highlands (by e-mail) is then printed. This checklist will be distributed to the general public, partner NGOs, governmental institutions (MINFOF, MINEP, MINTOUR, MINEPIA.....), Universities etc. We are intending to distribute about 250 copies. Posters will also be produced and disseminated. 12 PM: The distribution starts and extends to next week.
Nr of people reached
Teachers (50) University students and staff (ca. 80) BirdLife Botswana members, visitors to our website and readers of our publications (500) Government counterparts, NGO colleagues etc (ca. 60) General public (newspaper and magazine readers, visitors to our offices etc. difficult to quantify, but >10, 000)
Cameroon Biodiversity Conservation Society, Cameroon
8 and 13 April
1. Bird watching: estimated: 60 people 2. Posters: across Yaounde 3. Press conference on Avian Influenza: est. 50 people; general public through press releases
Nature Conservation Egypt, Egypt
8 April
NatureKenya, Kenya
5 and 8 April
BirdLife International Madagascar Programme, Madagascar Nigerian Conservation Foundation, Nigeria
8 and 9 April
6 April
Thursday 13/04 4 PM: Press conference at Hotel Somatel on Avian influenza. Distribution of Press release 6 PM End of Conference Planned was: Birdwatching Day as a one day trip, to take place in Fayoun and Wadi el Rayan. The aim of this trip was to increase the public awareness toward the migratory birds. NCE also planned to print T-Shirts to be distributed to the participants of the event. Planned was: To organize WMBD at 5 sites: Kikuyu Escarpment; Kinangop Grasslands; Kakamega Forest; Lake Victoria; Mukurweini (activities with Site Support Groups - SSGs) and Nairobi (a special bird walk with a focus on migratory birds will take place on 5 April at Nairobi National Park (a minibus will be hired to bring people there). The Bird Committee, Nature Kenya and the Ornithology Department to organize events in Nairobi. Coordinating teams to be sent to each site to help SSGs plan and organize a very successful publicity event and report back. Processions held at the 5 sites, including public meetings with speeches, children singing, banners and posters of WMBD. Materials for monitoring purchased under Darwin project to be distributed to Site Support Groups to encourage them to carry out regular monitoring. The media targeted to help publicize the event. Press articles and reports for Nature Kenya publications to be written to help reach out to a bigger majority. Planned was: (1) A discussion on TV about migratory birds, avian influenza, AEWA, and the ongoing AEWA convention ratification of the Malagasy government (2) Presentation and film projection about migratory birds at a secondary school in Antananarivo, Madagascar Planned was: NCF to host an educational programme with the theme “migratory birds need our attention now”. The target audience were students, and also the public by news articles in Nigerian dailies. The educational programme included a presentation on the theme and a guided bird watch in NCFs’ nature reserve. (6 April)
About 75 (children and adults)
Overall public events should directly reach some 3000 children; 1000 adults; 30 scientists; and 50 government staff.
2,500,000 people
- students: 50 - teachers/educators: 10
Association pour la Conservation de la Nature au Rwanda (ACNR), Rwanda
22 April
Wildlife Clubs of Seychelles / Nature Seychelles (Joint Activities), Seychelles
8 April
Conservation Society of Sierra Leone, Sierra Leone
8 and 9 April
Planned is: It is proposed that stakeholders, especially the students of high education institutes and Universities (future researchers) and the SSGs of Rwanda, will be trained in wildlife and more particularly bird conservation as a measure to arrest the problem of massive degradation and extinction of their habitat. Information will be spread on threats, ecology and biology and it is expected that this will raise awareness and increase knowledge and love towards nature, and particularly the birds, through research and habitat protection. On Migratory Bird Day (which will be held on 22th April, 2006, as a result of the Genocide Memorials in the weekend of 8-9 April and Easter the weekend thereafter) ACNR will (1) organise a trip and bird watch in Nyabarongo wetland (2) stimulate students to carry out research on bird and their habitat (3) spread information on migrating birds to the members of the SSGs Planned was: Activities on Cousin Island: 1. Introduction on Sea Birds Visiting the Island (Cousin Warden) 2. Tour the Island – Observing Birds Behavior (Sea Birds/ Waders) 3. Record Sea Bird Species – Bird Survey – Check list Activities on Mahe: Morning + Low Tide 1. Bird Watching/Bird Survey: at La Promenade Victoria Harbour Mud Flat 2. Games: Migration Games, Who I am?, Birds Adaptation 3. Poster Competition /Theme: “Save Migrated Birds Species” 4. Exhibition on site while Bird watching on Mahe. Title: Birds Migrations in Seychelles Islands. Planned was: 1. Production and distribution of awareness raising materials (posters, t-shirts etc.) 2. School Nature Drama Competition: five of Sierra Leone’s best school Nature Clubs to develop a quick drama script for presentation at the British Council Hall 3. Sensitisation parade in the streets of Freetown
12 students from different high education institutes and universities in Rwanda, 72 SSG Inyange SSG members and 6 committee members, in total 80 persons.
Artists +Teachers, = 30 Club members, = 300 General Public = 100
1. not quantified. 2. 300-400 people 3. A good proportion of people in the streets of Freetown would either see or participate in the events, including about 500-600 school children from Nature Clubs in the parade
NatureUganda, Uganda
8 April
Wildlife Conservation Society of Tanzania, Tanzania
8 April
Media sensitisation pogramme (TV, UN Radio) : the Radio and TV media to record a panel discussion by experts from CSSL and others which was to be broadcasted over the media. A free phone open for 15 minutes for questions and answers. 5. Bird watching excursion to Aberdeen and Congo Bay: a bird watching excursion organised for school children (40) and adult public members (30). Planned was: (1) A panel discussion / press briefing organized by NatureUganda, followed by a press release that announced the launch of the World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD), and to release some information about Avian Flu. The press release and panel discussion done together with partner organization and the National Task Force on Bird Flu. The Panel to comprise representatives from NatureUganda, Uganda Wildlife Authority, Wetlands Inspection Division, National Environment Management Authority and National Task Force on Bird Flu. (2) NatureUganda in conjunction with the National Task Force on Bird Flu to print A3 size low cost material (black and white) about the world migratory bird day and Bird Flu. The printed flyers to be distributed by volunteers to communities where migratory birds roost. (3) NatureUganda to organize a public talk on Avian Influenza, delivered by a member of the National Task Force on Bird Flu in Uganda, followed by a free film show on Bird migration (Winged Migration). (4) Print t-shirts to be given away to members and participants during the occasion. T-shirts give a long-lasting publicity impression. (5) A nature walk to celebrate this day was organized at Lutembe Bay which is one of the roosting sites for the bird migrants. Notable migrants that have been recorded here include: Whitewinged Black Terns and Gull-billed terns among others. Planned was: 7.30: Morning Birdwalk at the Ponds in the University of Dar es Salaam. 9.00: Group Discussion on the identified birds
4.
4. Expected over a million Sierra Leoneans to listen to this. 5. 40 children and 30 public members.
The target for the above activities included about 500 local communities at about 4 sites that are stopovers for migrant birds, about 1200 NatureUganda members (through the naturalists), the general public (200), partner institutions such as Wetlands Inspection Division (20), Uganda Wildlife Authority (20), 200 school children through the schools programme and film show etc, as well as the press for wider publicity and information dissemination.
Direct = 50 workshop participants. Indirect = Teachers: 40 schools *300 wildlife club members =
BirdLife Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe
8 and 9 April
Regional
1-8 April 1-9 April 8 April 1 April
10.00-12.00: Presentation on Migratory Birds by WCST 13.00-15.00: Demonstration on the use of Teachers guidebooks to the Birds of Dar es Salaam The teachers awareness workshop conducted on Saturday 8th April; Elias Mungaya (WCST) to give a PPT presentation on Migratory Birds. Group discussions will be encouraged. The Society provided the already produced Teacher's guide books for identification of the birds of Dar es Salaam as a takeaway material for Wildlife club teachers. Teachers expected to use the guides for teaching wildlife clubs in their respective schools. This will help local identification of birds and will encourage birdwalks at schools etc. A special bird walk and identification of birds to be conducted prior to the workshop A press release distributed to journalists from Radio, TV stations and newspapers to enhance public awareness. Planned was: An overnight camp at Imbwa Sewage Ponds, 40 km outside Harare. School children, teachers, BirdLife Zimbabwe members and staff, and representatives of government departments were invited. Waterbird counts at the ponds, ringing of waterbirds and discussions on avian influenza and migratory birds. - 500 posters were produced and disseminated across 20 countries in Africa - 20 t-shirts were produced for the launch event in Laikipia, Kenya - a press release came out on the BirdLife website www.birdlife.org - an article was produced in the BirdLife Africa e-bulletin
12,000 wildlife club members Media: to reach more than 50% (15 million people) of the Tanzanian public through Radio, TV and magazines.
50 school children over two days 5 school teachers 25 BirdLife Zimbabwe members 5 people from government departments and NGOs 20 BirdLife NGOs and their members + outreach 200 guests + artists + children at event visitors of website + press 100+ on mailing list of e-b
See also: www.worldmigratorybirdday.org/wmbd/