World Migratory Bird Day 2025: Protecting Birds in Caribbean Cities ^{CEFR B1}

Many bird species travel twice a year between the American continent and the Caribbean. In autumn they move south and in spring they return north to the United States. These migrations often happen in large waves; BirdCast reported a record night of migration of 1.25 billion birds on October 8, 2025.

World Migratory Bird Day 2025 fell on October 11 and used the theme “Shared Spaces: Creating Bird-Friendly Cities and Communities.” The theme asks communities to work together to protect migrants because urban development on islands can sit next to forests, wetlands and coasts and cause habitat loss and fragmentation. That loss makes it harder for birds to find food, raise young and hide from predators. Climate change adds threats like rising sea levels and catastrophic hurricanes.

BirdLife Jamaica President Justin Saunders said, “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. Practical steps include choosing bird-friendly coffee, planting native species, reducing artificial light, avoiding pesticides, preventing plastic pollution and reducing window collisions. Caribbean educators planned birdwatching trips, habitat cleanups, school presentations, art competitions, tree planting, and installing bird baths and feeders.