Year of the Bird celebrations now on
A total of 40 events on 14 islands are already on the schedule for this year’s Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) which began on Earth Day, April 22, and is scheduled to continue to May 22 — International Day for Biological Diversity.
More than 80,000 Caribbean residents, friends and visitors are expected to join in the activities, led by BirdsCaribbean.
The National Geographic Society designated 2018 ‘Year of the Bird’ to commemorate 100 years of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act which has protected birds for generations.
In the 17-year history of the CEBF, BirdsCaribbean and its enthusiastic partners across the region have always found fun and creative ways to connect people to the Caribbean’s endemic birds.
“The festival seeks to inspire people of all ages and walks of life to conserve our birds and our natural environment,” BirdsCaribbean said in a news release. “This is even more critical in the wake of 2017’s devastating hurricanes. The recovery and the resilience of our bird populations must also be recognised in the month.”
According to BirdsCaribbean, of the 565 species of birds in this region, 173 are unique to us. The group explained that the festival is an expression of “who we are and how we connect with the environment”.
“Learning about our birds takes place in a diverse, harmonious setting. In previous years, church services, radio and television interviews, street parades, fairs, information booths, drama and art competitions have all formed part of the CEBF celebrations,” BirdsCaribbean said.
Anyone wishing to get more information about the CEBF, to find events in your area, and see updates throughout the month can visit birdscaribbean.org or find BirdsCaribbean on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram.
