INTERNATIONAL MIGRATORY BIRD DAY 2002
CELEBRATES IMPORTANT BIRD AREAS

Art copyright Charley Harper

On a clear calm day in late winter a Rufous Hummingbird, an Audubon WatchList species, takes off from its overwintering territory in the pine-oak forest of the Sierra de Manantlan Biosphere Reserve in Jalisco, Mexico. This small, compact, orange and green hummingbird is beginning a long spring journey north to its breeding grounds, perhaps in southwestern Canada. Along the way the Rufous Hummingbird will need lots of places to stop where it can refuel and find safety from predators. As the hummingbird travels north, it may find refuge in the Kern River Valley, California and a number of other important stopover sites along the Pacific coast or the central valley of California, staying for several days to a month. After a sufficient rest and plenty of nectar, the bird again continues north toward the state of Washington ultimately stopping at the Strathcona Provincial Park in British Columbia. In the sub-alpine and alpine habitats of the park the bird will find a mate and attempt to reproduce during a relatively short breeding season. Following courtship, incubation, hatching and rearing of young, the tiny bird will head south again, this time passing further inland around the Great Basin. It may find temporary refuge at the Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado and then head south through the Gila Wilderness in southwestern New Mexico before eventually returning to the same overwintering territory in the Sierra de Manantlan Biosphere Reserve.

The Rufous Hummingbird breeds from the northern Rockies to southern Alaska. The factors contributing to its decline are not well understood, and require further study.

In one year this little traveler will have completed one of the longest migrations of any avian species, relative to its body size, and it will repeat this annual cycle each year. Obviously this journey involves many threats and risks. The bird will need reliable food supplies, protection from predators and refuge from severe weather. The survival of this individual, and this entire species, is therefore dependent on a network of suitable sites that provide critical habitat. In other words, each site is a critical link in the chain of sites needed for the birds survival and reproduction. In the case of this Rufous Hummingbird, each of the special places mentioned have one thing in common: all have been identified as priority sites for bird conservation through the Important Bird Areas program. Special places like these Important Bird Areas are the focus of International Migratory Bird Day 2002.

International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD) is an invitation to celebrate and support migratory bird conservation. In 2002 the theme of IMBD was "A Celebration of Special Places". IMBD took place on May 11th with festivals and other activities occurring throughout the year across the Americas. Thousands of people celebrated the critical role of Important Bird Areas, National Wildlife Refuges, and other special places in the conservation of migratory birds as they flood north on the annual spring migration. To find out more check out these IMBD links:

http://www.birdday.org/

http://birds.fws.gov/imbd
(This site will link you to a database of festivals and other IMBD events.)