The biggest event of the BirdLife partners in Europe celebrates its 20-year anniversary. Since 1993, EuroBirdwatch has attracted tens of thousands of participants each year, sharing in diverse activities or just simply observing the birds as they migrate southwards. This year, the national partners of BirdLife International of 33 countries in Europe and Central Asia invite people to observe the birds and hear interesting facts about bird migration and threats they face during their journeys. In most countries people will find observation and information posts where everyone can share the knowledge on migratory birds and their flyways.

The majority of the migrating birds are in danger because of land use changes and climatic changes in their breeding and wintering areas and on the crucial stopovers. Therefore BirdLife Partnership is pleased by the number of people fascinated by bird migration, which is rising every year. Only joint action of many people and nations can halt the adverse trend.

For the migrating bird species the existence of suitable breeding areas in the north, saving stopovers on the flyway and appropriate habitats in the wintering regions are vitally important. The aim of EuroBirdwatch13 is to raise awareness for the beauty of bird migration and the needs of the birds taking part in it.

The European Birdwatch is an annual event comprising hundreds of nationally organised activities. On these observation posts the number of birds and participating people are counted and reported via the national centres to the European centre. Last year around 70’000 people took part in 34 countries and more then six million birds were observed on this single weekend.

In 2013 the Slovak Ornithological Society/BirdLife Slovakia is acting as the European Centre to process these data. Since 1993, the event has been coordinated by Fritz Hirt (SVS/BirdLife Switzerland) who was one of the initiators of EuroBirdwatch. Among other merits, this was one of the reasons BirdLife International awarded him the Honorary Membership in 2013. The deed of membership was handed to Fritz Hirt by Princess Takamado in the course of BirdLife International’s world congress in Ottawa.

In Gibraltar, as the local BirdlIfe International Partner, the Gibraltar Ornithological and Natural History Society (GONHS) will be organising several events, which are open to the public.

The first of these will be a bird ringing demonstration at the Alameda Botanic Gardens, where migratory and other birds will be caught using mist nets and then ringed by licensed bird ringers, with specific measurements being taken, before being released back into the wild. Later, the Raptor Unit will host a bird of prey display and the unit members will be on hand to provide further information on how each bird is cared for by the unit, which in addition to rehabilitation also breeds rare birds of prey such as the Lesser Kestrel for subsequent release into the wild.

In the afternoon, observers will be at the Europa Point Marine Observatory looking for birds (and cetaceans) in the Strait of Gibraltar.

Key times and locations (all Saturday 5th October 2013)

8am-11am Bird Ringing – on top of the Nature Shop; up Heathfield Steps and left at the entrance to the Alameda Botanic Gardens.

10.30am-12.30pm Bird of Prey Display – between the top of Heathfield Steps and The Cottage.

The public is reminded that dogs are not allowed within the gardens.

3pm – 6pm - Europa Point Marine Observatory. Below and to the left of the Harding's Battery mound.

For further information on European Birdwatch visit http://www.gonhs.org or http://ebw2013.vtaky.sk/