Light pollution threatens migratory birds, waterfowl sanctuaries in Northeast – NCF
By Njadvara MUSA, Damaturu
Nigeria Conservation Foundation (NCF) has warned against light pollution that threatens migratory birds and waterfowls sanctuaries in the Northeast Chad Basin National Park.
The alarm was raised, yesterday (Monday); by the NCF project officer, Harry Hanson to mark 2022 World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) in the Hadejia/Nguru wetlands, Yobe State.
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He said that WMBD with theme: “Light pollution: dim the light for birds at Night” was to conserve and protect the Waterfowls Sanctuary of the Hadejia/Nguru wetlands of Chad Basin National Park in the northeast.
According to him, school children are gathered to catch them young become young school conservation clubs to celebrates the global awareness event on migratory birds.
He noted that there should be an awareness-raising campaigns to highlight the need for the conservation of migratory birds and their habitats.
Continuing, he said that NCF is drawing attention on the increased threats faced by the migratory birds.
He warned that birds’ ecological habitats are threatened that require international cooperation to conserve the various species of birds across the globe.
Besides, he added that the agreement on the conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Water birds is an intergovernmental treaty dedicated to the conservation of migratory water birds along with the African-Eurasian Flyway.
The Agreement covers 255 species of bird ecologically dependent on wetlands for their annual migratory cycle.
Explaining that 80 countries and the European Union have become a contracting party to the agreement on migratory birds across the globe.
Hanson noted that the collaboration with the Secretariat of the Convention, is on the conservation of migratory species of wild animals.
According to him, this year’s theme on migratory birds; is centered on light pollution by dimming the light for them at night.
“The WMBD is to raise awareness on each year of May to initiate concrete actions tackle light pollution in October, 2022,” he said.
In a paper presented by Apeverga Tersoo, of the Department of Environmental Management and Toxicology, Federal University Dutse, said that nocturnal migrating birds are usually attracted to light pollution which leads to disorientation.
He said that the disorientation makes the birds vulnerable to collisions and other dangers as they deviate from their flyways.
Already, he further disclosed that about 100 million birds die every year from colliding with buildings and other man-made structures.
“Research has also shown that not only does light pollution affects migration in birds, it also impact birds in the breeding and wintering seasons,” he said, including disrupting their phonologies and threats to their internal clocks.
He noted that this also interferes the ability to undertake long distance migration across the globe.
