DC Audubon at Bird Fest 2007

Bird Fest 2007 at the National Zoo was a celebration of the annual International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD). In springtime we welcome birds that have just migrated from their wintering grounds in Latin America. Bird Fest 2007 celebrates the time that DC residents spend with the birds that we share with so many other states and countries.

From the Smithsonian website:

Founded in 1993 by the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center (SMBC), International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD) is now the hallmark event of "Partners in Flight", an international coalition whose mission is to conserve migratory birds. Of equal importance, IMBD aims to raise awareness of the environmental problems that are making life increasingly difficult for these birds - leading to serious declines in many species - and to let people know what they can do to help.

Neotropical migratory birds that come through DC include the Wood Thrush (the official bird of DC), warblers, vireos, and other songbirds that are highly sought by birdwatchers.

DC Audubon had a table at this event to help raise awareness about the birds that come through DC each spring. To encourage the appreciation and conservation of these birds, we displayed posters of the birding sites and birds of the District; all of these birds are listed on our DC birding checklists. We also distributed information on the impact of climate change on bird migration, brochures on local native plants, and ways for folks to get involved in activism. Several visitors took brochures and membership applications. We hope that they will join us.

The event was a resounding success. DC Audubon volunteers spoke with dozens of visitors and collected signatures for our petition to ban plastic bags in the District. We were proud to be among the many organizations with representatives at Bird Fest.

The District outlined its plan to conserve these birds in the DC Wildlife Action Plan (WAP). The WAP is a conservation effort supported by the Teaming with Wildlife Coalition (TWW), of which the DC Audubon is a member. TWW is a nationwide coalition of more than 5,000 members that supports funding for state wildlife agencies to conserve wildlife.

Booths at Bird Fest Denise and Dhananjaya Denise