International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD) started in 1993 and has evolved into World Migratory Bird Day. It is a time to celebrate and bring awareness to the billions of birds that make the perilous journey north every year to nest and raise a family. WMBD is celebrated annually on the second Saturday of May. It is a chance for conservationists, natural resource agencies, families, organizations, communities, individuals, and children to celebrate birds during the spring bird migration.

Nebraska Migratory Bird Month

Over the years, the Wild Bird Habitat Stores have helped to organize several International Migratory Bird Day events in our area. Then in 2015, working with Lindsay Rogers, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission’s (NGPC) Fish & Wildlife Education Division Administrator, the Wild Bird Habitat Stores and NGPC developed an International Migratory Bird Month as Nebraska’s way to celebrate migratory birds and birds in general during WMBD. The Nebraska Migratory Bird Month is held through the month of May and is now in its eighth year.

Two major migratory flyways pass through Nebraska. The Missouri River flyway and the Central Great Plaines flyway. The sheer number of birds that use these two flyways ranks Nebraska as one of the top birding areas on the North American Continent, with over 454 bird species on the Nebraska Bird Checklist. These include migratory birds passing through in the spring and fall, migratory birds arriving in the spring to nest, migratory and irruptive bird species arriving from northern regions in the fall to spend the winter, and those birds which reside across Nebraska year-round.

Nebraska is also home to both eastern and western bird species. They come together at approximately the 180 meridian in west central Nebraska, forming a narrow hybridization zone where similar birds common to each region are known to interbreed. Examples include the Re-shafted Flicker of the west with the Yellow-shafted Flicker of the east. The Bullocks Oriole of the west with the Baltimore Oriole of the east.

Why Is Nebraska Migratory Bird Month Important?

Public awareness and concern are crucial components of migratory bird conservation. Citizens who are enthusiastic about birds, informed about threats, and empowered to become involved in addressing those threats, can make a tremendous contribution to maintaining healthy bird populations. Through Nebraska Migratory Bird Month events, we will educate, inspire, and empower all Nebraskans to conserve and protect our bird populations.

This is a month-long celebration of birds about all the ways that birds enrich our lives, the environment, and contribute to a healthy ecosystem. While World Migratory Bird Day is celebrated annually on the second Saturday of May, Nebraska Migratory Bird Month expands the opportunity for natural resource agencies, conservation groups and organizations, schools, families, and individuals to celebrate birds during their spring migration for the entire month of May.

Migratory birds, all our birds, are necessary to support a healthy ecosystem. Bird activity helps pollinate plants. Birds feed on insects, protecting gardens and reducing the need for chemical pesticides on agricultural crops. Birds are a food source for other wildlife species. Migratory birds in spring, as well as all our resident birds, provide an opportunity to observe hundreds of bird species in their most colorful breeding plumage. It creates an exciting period to celebrate birds and learn more about how birds contribute to our daily lives and connect us to the natural world we live in. 

In response to the rich birding heritage of Nebraska, the economic output of bird watching across the state, and the many other benefits that birds provide, on May 13, 2015, Governor Pete Ricketts proclaimed the month of May as Nebraska Migratory Bird Month. 

Celebrate Birds During Nebraska Migratory Bird Month

There are many ways to celebrate birds as we watch these beautiful, feathered friends return to Nebraska in the spring. It may be as simple as setting up a bird feeder in your backyard and learning about the birds you attract. 

You may want to enjoy participating in one of the many birding events and activities that are scheduled every May across the state to celebrate birds. You might even want to create a birding event and invite your family, friends, and community to join in a celebration of birds. You can then have your birding event added to the Nebraska Bird Month events calendar to promote your celebration of birds.

To find out what birding activities and events are happening in your area of Nebraska, go to Nebraska Bird Month Events.

Another way you can celebrate and enjoy birds is to become a citizen scientist and document, then report the birds you see to help researchers and conservationists learn more about bird movement during migration and population changes. The Cornell Bird Lab in Ithaca, NY offers numerous citizen science-based projects where bird enthusiasts can report their findings to biologists. 

I am hosting a bird event in May. How do I get it on the website?

First, thanks! The goal of this initiative is to have lots of groups host events across the state. Together we can celebrate state-wide without leaving it up to one group. Agencies, organizations, communities, clubs, and schools are invited to host a bird-related event - large or small - sometime during the month of May to help Nebraskans learn about and appreciate our feathered friends. If you have an event to add, please contact Jamie Bachmann:  jamie.bachmann@nebraska.gov of the Northern Prairies Lands Trust.

World Migratory Bird Day Events in North America

World Migratory Bird Day has events scheduled across the United States and Canada. Locate birding events in your state or province at World Migratory Bird Day in the Americas and celebrate birds during May of 2022.  If you are hosting or organizing a birding program or activity and would like to register your event, visit Register Migratory Bird Day Event

Whether you need a bird feeder to prepare for this month or a book to help you identify the species you see, visit Wild Bird Habitat Store in Lincoln, NE. Since 1993, they have been serving birding enthusiasts throughout the area. They carry a large inventory of wild bird feed, feeders, bird baths, and accessories to help you document and watch these winged creatures. Call (402) 420-2553 to speak with a team member, and visit them online to learn more about their products.