• Home
  • Publications
  • World Migratory Bird Day 2026: Celebrating 50 Years of the Saloum Delta National Park

World Migratory Bird Day 2026: Celebrating 50 Years of the Saloum Delta National Park

Published on:

Wetlands International Africa, in collaboration with the Directorate of National Parks (DPN), the Saloum Delta National Park (PNDS), BirdLife International Africa, NCD and other conservation stakeholders, is mobilising to mark World Migratory Bird Day 2026. Held as part of the Saloum Delta National Park’s 50th anniversary, the celebration aims to raise awareness and strengthen the commitment of communities, young people and local stakeholders to protecting migratory birds and their habitats.

The event honours five decades of efforts to preserve an exceptional natural heritage and underscores the importance of sustaining conservation action in the face of the pressures threatening coastal ecosystems.

Under the theme “Every Bird Counts – Your Observations Matter”, this year’s edition highlights the essential role of species observation and monitoring in building knowledge of biodiversity and preserving ecosystems.

The celebrations were built around educational, scientific, cultural and community activities, involving schools, youth organisations, local communities, conservation actors and the media. The programme featured birdwatching sessions, awareness-raising presentations, quizzes, drawing competitions and cultural performances, as well as exhibitions showcasing community initiatives and ecotourism.

These activities are a reminder that conservation is not only about protecting natural areas: it also requires the long-term involvement of the people who live alongside these ecosystems and depend on them.

Migratory birds remind us that nature knows no borders. Protecting them depends on our ability to preserve wetlands, connect habitats and rally communities around a shared commitment. In celebrating fifty years of the Saloum Delta National Park, we are also celebrating our collective responsibility to pass this natural heritage on to future generations

Khady Gueye
Wiaco-Fatick Coordinator

Under the IKI CREAF programme (Climate-Resilient East Atlantic Flyway), WIACO is working with its partners to promote the conservation of critical sites for migratory birds along the East Atlantic Flyway. This approach highlights the importance of preserving ecologically connected habitats across borders and beyond the boundaries of protected areas.

Protecting migratory birds also means protecting the wetlands, communities and ecological balances on which our shared future depends.