Published on: 2026-05-09
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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Cizin Zhang
May 9, 2026 Climate and environment
Do you know that perhaps, at this very moment, millions of birds are silently migrating above your head – and you only need to look out the window to see it for yourself?
On the eve of World Migratory Bird Day, celebrated on May 9, the UN News Service spoke with Catherine Kwei, Communications Director of the New York Bird Fund.
The theme of the Day this year is “Every bird matters, and your observations make a difference” — emphasizing the urgent need to protect migratory birds and the ecosystems they depend on.
UN News Service: Residents of cities often think that wilderness is far away from them. But you believe that birds – part of our daily life…
Catherine Quayle:If you live near a park or just trees, even in the very center of Manchester, you can hear birds when you wake up. And the songs change throughout the year. You don’t even need to leave the house to see the ecological diversity.
Birds often migrate at night. In the evening, you may see gulls or herons flying to their roost. Look out the window early in the morning or in the evening – and you will see birds, not just yourself at home.
UN News Service: New York is located on the Atlantic bird migration route–In essence, this is a bird highway. How many birds fly over our heads during peak migration?
CC:The BirdCast device from Cornell Lab of Ornithology uses meteor radar to track bird migration. It shows how many are flying and when.
During peak nights, several billion birds can migrate over the USA simultaneously. In New York, up to a million individuals can move in one night, but most people are unaware of this because it happens at night.
UN News Service: What difficulties do birds face during migration?
As:One of the biggest problems is the loss of habitat. Birds migrate in search of certain food at certain times of the year. Generations have learned where it is better to fly in winter. For example, to Central America. But if the habitat is destroyed, built over, asphalted, or cut down, many other birds will not survive when they arrive for wintering or nesting sites.
Another serious threat in New York is collisions with windows. This happens much more often than 50 years ago because modern architecture is oriented towards glass. Partially glazed building facades and fully glass windows are extremely popular, and they are very dangerous for birds.
UN News Service: Are there certain types of buildings that pose the greatest threat to birds?
As:In dangerous skyscrapers, because birds are attracted by bright light reflected from glass. During migration, this is characteristic for the center of Manhattan, where glass facades reflect nearby trees. The combination of light and glass is extremely dangerous.
Ordinary houses can also be dangerous. Reflections in windows, especially near feeders or trees, often lead to collisions. Low houses actually cause most collisions; it’s just less noticeable because near one such building one or two birds die, whereas in the center of Manchester hundreds of them perish.
Migratory birds are especially at risk because they arrive at night tired, disoriented, and immediately end up in an unfamiliar place.
UN News Service: What we can do daily to contribute to bird protection
CC:You can turn off the street light at night so that the sky remains dark and the birds are not attracted to the light. If in a small community people everywhere turn off the lights, it greatly changes the situation.
One of the best solutions is to plant local tree species in your garden. Conduct a small study on which types are typical for your region, and set aside part of the open space for them so that they attract insects and birds.
UN News Service: Is there a rescue story that you personally remember?
KK:When I go to the local park to watch the birds, I pass by several buildings where window collisions often occur. During the migration season, I check if there are any injured birds there.
During one trip, I noticed a bird on the road under a glazed bridge – such structures are especially dangerous because birds do not expect to encounter an obstacle on their way.
I ran down the slope and picked up the bird. A few seconds later, cars passed through that place. The bird was a scarlet tanager [a small bird from the sparrow family], with beautiful yellow plumage. Later, it was treated and released. If I hadn’t taken it in my hands then, it would have definitely died.
UN News Service: What can those who know little about bird species and behavior do?
KK:Start observing the birds around you. Pay attention to what you see and hear when you go outside. As you focus more on what is happening around you, your interest will grow.
You can take binoculars or join a walk with those who love bird watching. During migration in the local park, many such free walks are held, often led by experts, and it is really interesting.
Many years ago, when I first went into the Central Park with binoculars and began to observe birds that I hadn’t noticed before, it literally blew my mind. I was so inspired by what I saw that I couldn’t stop. Since then — now for 25 years — I have been professionally engaged with birds.
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