YANGON: A series of photo exhibitions and thematic talks were held in Yangon on Saturday (Oct 3) to mark World Migratory Bird Day, as Myanmar ornithologists and environmentalists urge global efforts to protect migratory bird habitats and migration routes increasingly threatened by human activities.
Of the world's billions of birds spanning over 10,000 species, some 18 to 20 per cent are migratory, said renowned Myanmar ornithologist Thein Aung. He noted that human activities including illegal bird hunting for trade, wetland pollution, and large-scale infrastructure development near feeding grounds have posed growing risks to migratory birds along their flight paths.
This year's World Migratory Bird Day falls under the global theme "Every Bird Counts -- Your Observations Matter." Thein Aung, one of the event's organising ornithologists, said the activity aims to disseminate popular science knowledge about migratory birds and mobilise public participation in conservation work.
During the event, Ko Phyo, a veteran bird photographer and environmental conservation practitioner as well as director of Myanmar's non-profit organisation Wild Wings Group, exhibited bird photos taken across Myanmar over more than 15 years. "Bird observation requires systematic learning of bird habits, habitats, breeding grounds and chirps through both books and on-site observation," he said.
He stressed the importance of joint efforts to protect local vegetation and ecological environments. "Birds serve a vital role in ecological protection. For example, they prey on pests that damage rice and other crops, forming an interdependent ecological relationship with human agricultural production. This is why bird conservation matters greatly," he explained.
Daw Khin Khin Thaw, a Yangon-based teacher who brought nearly 50 students to the event, emphasised that bird conservation awareness should be cultivated among children from an early age. She said interactive activities such as bird observation and bird drawing based on the photo exhibition help students gradually build ecological and environmental awareness.
Thein Aung also called for strengthened international cooperation on transboundary bird conservation. He introduced that two major global migratory flyways, namely the Central Asian Flyway and the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, traverse multiple Asean countries.
Taking neighbouring China as an example, Thein Aung said China has accumulated mature and extensive expertise in migratory bird protection. Advanced academic programs at the master's and doctoral levels in China offer valuable learning opportunities for Myanmar researchers.
He expressed the hope for future China-Myanmar cooperation, including joint research on cross-border migratory bird routes, to jointly advance regional conservation undertakings.
World Migratory Bird Day is observed twice annually, in May for spring migration departure and in October for autumn migration arrival. The official observance dates for 2026 are May 9 and Oct 10.- Xinhua
