Contact:
Julie St. Louis 703-358-1824, John Heinz NWR 610-521-0662
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has joined with the City of Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Zoo, other conservation supporters and individuals to celebrate the ninth annual International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD). On May 12, 2001, in ceremonies held at the Philadelphia Zoo, representatives of the Service and Philadelphia opened a weekend celebration of migratory birds and their contributions to peoples quality of life.
"We are extremely proud to stand with the City of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Zoo to celebrate migratory birds and inaugurate a new partnership for bird conservation in this historic city," said Dr. Mamie A. Parker, acting regional director for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services Northeast Region. "More than 350 bird species migrate to or through Philadelphia each year, and we welcome the opportunity to work with its residents to provide habitat."
Saturdays event is of one of hundreds of IMBD events celebrated nationwide and focuses on the annual return of millions of birds from their Central and South American wintering habitats.
Parker noted that shade-grown coffee was chosen as this years theme because of its increasing prominence in conservation, birding, and speciality coffee circles. Parker also explained that when cities improve bird habitat, it benefits their residents. The kind of habitat that shelters and sustains birds parks, greenways and tree-lined streets, for example also improves the quality of life for people.
Philadelphia Managing Director Joseph S. Martz pointed to Philadelphias Neighborhood Transformation Initiative as an example of how urban renewal can also benefit migratory birds.
"As we rebuild our city, we are working to maintain and enhance the quality of life for our residents, and in this case, it includes appreciating and learning about these beautiful creatures, both today and for future generations," said Martz.
The Service has a long history of working with the residents of Philadelphia to conserve migratory birds. John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum, established in 1972, lies within the city limits and provides resting, feeding and nesting habitat for more than 280 species of migratory birds. The refuge works with local public schools on environmental education and habitat restoration projects and was designated the first Important Bird Area in Pennsylvania by the National Audubon Society.
IMBD is the hallmark event of Partners in Flight, an international coalition created in 1990 that includes the Service, other federal and state wildlife agencies, conservation groups, academic institutions, corporations and individuals dedicated to reversing declines in migratory bird populations. During its nine years, IMBD has become the premier celebration of migratory birds and their habitat in our hemisphere.
IMBD celebrations will be held at hundreds of locations on or around May 12, including member facilities of the American Zoo and Aquarium Association, Federal public lands such as national wildlife refuges, national parks and forests, city and state parks, bird sanctuaries and other natural areas. Many of these events can be found in a registry on the International Migratory Bird Day web site at http://birds.fws.gov/imbd. Additional information on migratory bird management issues, including shade-grown coffee, can be found via the Services home page at http://www.fws.gov">.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 94-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System which encompasses more than 535 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 70 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resource offices and 78 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces Federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid program that distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.
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