Blog by Tim Poole, Manitoba IBA Coordinator

May 9^th is International Migratory Bird Day, a day where we celebrate one of the most important annual events in the Americas (and wider afield). This is probably the most exciting time of year for any self-respecting birder with even seeing common species seeming like an event. The American Robin at the back of my house burst into song last week, I saw my first Common Loon of the year just last night, raptors are daily on the move along the Red River and Pembina River Valleys and the sight of Canada Geese is no longer an event in Winnipeg. The birds are on the move!

Oak Hammock Marsh Interpretive Centre will be celebrating International Migratory Bird Day with a series of events including bird banding and a warbler workshop by Paula Grieef, Resident Naturalist (see here for details on the workshop). Earlier in the morning, I will be doing a birding walk to collect data to be entered on eBird later in the day. I will aim to leave the main parking lot at 8am. Along with meetings with our Caretakers, the Manitoba Breeding Bird Atlas Coordinator, Christian Artuso, will be giving a talk in the afternoon on IBA’s and eBird. This is a fantastic opportunity for people to discover more about the IBA Program and get an insight into using eBird. The plan is that Christian will be entering data collected that very morning within the IBA. We will also be around before and after the talk to discuss volunteer opportunities (or you might just wish to go birding). Cost for Christians talk will be included in standard admittance to the Interpretive Centre, although the Workshop will cost extra. For more information on the day at Oak Hammock see http://www.oakhammockmarsh.ca/events/international-migratory-bird-day/.

For more information on International Migratory Bird Day see http://www.migratorybirdday.org/.