Festival Background
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.
Each spring, hundreds of events occur in the U.S., Canada, and Latin America to celebrate the epic journeys of billions of migratory birds that breed in the United States and Canada and winter in Latin America and the Caribbean.
These so-called "Neotropical migratory birds" include many familiar species, such as the Baltimore Oriole, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, and Wood Thrush (the official bird of Washington, D.C.)
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.
The SMBC coordinates an annual festival at the National Zoo. Follow the links to the left to learn about this year's exciting and educational event.
Contact us
if you have questions regarding International Migratory Bird Day.
