May 10 is World Migratory Bird Day, which has been celebrated, since its proclamation by the UN in 2006, on the second Saturday of May and also on the second Saturday of October. In this way, reference is made to the different migratory cycles of birds with the change of seasons. This date, the result of the union of two international treaties – the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) and the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA) – aims to raise awareness about migratory birds and the need for cooperation on a global scale to conserve these species and their habitats.

This year, the campaign focuses on the importance of promoting more bird-friendly environments, under the slogan ‘Creating bird-friendly cities and communities‘. The aim is to make visible the challenges faced by migratory birds in increasingly urbanised spaces and to highlight how proper planning and citizen involvement can contribute to their conservation.

Urban expansion and infrastructure, if not managed responsibly, pose a direct threat to these species, causing the loss and fragmentation of habitats, an increase in light and noise pollution or the risk of collisions with glass and buildings. Migratory birds need safe spaces along their routes, not only in large natural areas, but also in urban environments that act as refuges and resting points.

For this reason, this year’s campaign encourages governments, local administrations, companies, social entities and citizens to adopt practices that make our territories more habitable for birds as well, such as restoring urban habitats, reducing the use of toxic products, protecting green areas and wetlands or adopting measures to avoid collisions. Every action counts, and any environment – urban, rural or natural – can be part of the solution to protect these essential travellers for biodiversity.

The Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge has contributed, since its inception, to the protection and improvement of the conservation status of birdlife in general, and migratory birds in particular, supporting projects that, directly or indirectly, contribute to this objective.

Thus, initiatives have been promoted for the development of conservation actions for endangered species, such as the marbled teal (Marmaronetta angustirrostris), for which different actions are also being developed with the aim of reversing its situation through the LIFE Marbled Teal project, coordinated by the Foundation.

Among the most recent advances is the historical reproduction record reached in 2024, with 130 chicks (females sighted accompanied by chickens) and 806 chicks, the highest number in the last twenty years. These figures also allow the objective of 125 breeding pairs planned by the project to be exceeded .

Also noteworthy within the framework of the project is the signing to date of 14 land stewardship agreements and, in parallel, the captive breeding programme, which has allowed the release of 3,042 individuals, 95 of which have been equipped with satellite tracking devices.

Finally, the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge has approved a new National Strategy for the marbled teal and other waterbirds, which includes the strengthening of the legal protection of these species and their habitat and the promotion of wetland management, among other lines to be followed.

On the other hand, within the Pleamar Programme, co-financed by the European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (FEMPA), the Centre for University Extension and Environmental Dissemination of Galicia (CEIDA) is carrying out the project “NORAVES: Assessment and mitigation of accidental mortality of seabirds in fishing gear in the North Atlantic Demarcation”. Its objective is to contribute to the improvement of knowledge of the magnitude of the impact of accidental mortality in fishing gear on the seabird populations of the North Atlantic Marine Demarcation, with special attention to its marine SPAs, and to make management and mitigation proposals that contribute to the reduction of the existing impact.

Finally, within the framework of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (RTRP), funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU, the Biodiversity Foundation supports various initiatives linked to improving connectivity and promoting biodiversity in areas of passage or regular presence of migratory birds, in which SEO/BirdLife participates.

In this regard, the Santander Capital Natural project stands out, beneficiary of the 2021 call for grants to promote the renaturalisation of cities, which seeks to improve urban green infrastructure through the creation of new green spaces and the regeneration of degraded areas with the aim of expanding the presence of birds in the city. To this end, it has launched various awareness-raising actions such as the publication of the “Santander Bird Guide“, which describes migratory species observable at different times of the year in the municipality, such as the black-headed gull, the redstart or the song thrush.

Likewise, Pinto en Verde, beneficiary of the 2022 call for grants to promote the renaturation of cities, proposes the improvement of the municipality’s ecosystem services through the development of biological corridors, the creation of biodiversity refuges and the installation of bird feeders.

On the other hand, SEO/BirdLife also coordinates the Secanos Vivos project, beneficiary of the 2021 call for grants for the promotion of the bioeconomy and ecological transition, which aims to transform extensive rainfed cereal and vineyard agrosystems to increase biodiversity and promote their climate resilience, implementing actions such as the organisation of ornithological mini-marathons in order to promote the passage of migratory birds.