World Migratory Bird Day 2025: Protecting Birds in Caribbean Cities ^{CEFR B2}

World Migratory Bird Day 2025 fell on Saturday, October 11 with the theme “Shared Spaces: Creating Bird-Friendly Cities and Communities.” The day highlights long seasonal movements of many species that travel between the American continent and the Caribbean. In autumn birds move south and in spring they return north; these movements occur in large waves, and BirdCast reported a record night of migration of 1.25 billion birds on October 8, 2025.

The WMBD theme asks communities to work together to protect migrants by making cities and towns friendlier to birds. On many islands urban development sits next to forests, wetlands and coasts, so towns and cities can cause habitat loss and fragmentation. That loss makes it harder for birds to find food, raise young and hide from predators. Climate change adds further threats, such as rising sea levels, catastrophic hurricanes, and shifts in temperature and rainfall that can damage coastal wetlands and other habitats.

BirdLife Jamaica President Justin Saunders described the relationship between Jamaicans and migratory birds: “Migratory Birds and Jamaicans have quite an interesting relationship. Some Jamaicans readily recognize a few, like the American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) and refer to it as ‘Christmas bud’ [bird]; others will express complete amazement when they see the Chestnut-sided warbler (Setophaga pensilvanica), which is much rarer.” Experts note worrying declines: worldwide, 49 percent of all bird species are in decline. The World Wildlife Fund's 2024 Living Planet Report and a 2024 BirdLife press release documented falling populations, including migratory shorebirds.

Environment for the Americas named eight WMBD focal species in 2025: American Robin (Turdus migratoriu), Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus), Red Knot (Calidris canutus), American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla), Giant Hummingbird (Patagona gigas), Graylag Goose (Anser anser), Common Crane (Grus grus), and Yellow-breasted Bunting (Emberiza aureola). BirdsCaribbean Executive Director Lisa Sorensen warned that “Climate change, coastal development, pollution, and pressures from tourism are shrinking the critical Caribbean stopover sites they depend on,” and added that “Every remaining patch of habitat is a lifeline; we must act to protect them now or watch these migrations fade from our shores.”

Practical steps communities can take include choosing bird-friendly coffee, planting native species, reducing artificial light, avoiding pesticides, preventing plastic pollution and reducing window collisions with films, patterned glass or closed curtains. Caribbean educators planned events such as birdwatching trips, habitat cleanups, school presentations, art competitions, tree planting, and installing bird baths and feeders so communities can learn about and welcome migratory birds.