This year, 2018, is the centennial mark of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, a powerful and important bird-protection law. To mark and celebrate this centennial over 100 organizations including Cornell Lab of Ornithology, National Geographic, National Audubon Society, and BirdLife International have declared 2018 the "Year of the Bird".

Image Source Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918

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In 1916 a Convention between the United States and Great Britain (for Canada) was held for the protection of migratory birds. This culminated into the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918. This treaty was later amended to implement treaties between the United States and Mexico, the United States and Japan, and the United States and Russia. The treaty protects migratory birds from wanton killing.

Why Birds Matter

There are 10,000 or so bird species spread across the planet. The only other forms of life more widely distributed around the planet are microscopic organisms. Birds play an important role in each and every ecosystem they inhabit.

To survive in so many diverse habitats, bird species have evolved to take on many different forms.

The tallest bird, the ostrich, can reach a height of 9 feet.

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The smallest bird, bee hummingbird, found only in Cuba measures between 1.97 to 2.36 inches (5 to 6 cm) in length and weighs between 1.6 to 1.9 grams.

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Birds are an integral part of nature that most of the world has protected for a hundred years because of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918.

Sources

Year of the Bird, National Geographic Society

Digest of Federal Resource Laws of Interest to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Why Birds Matter, and Are Worth Protecting, National Geographic Society

Bee Hummingbirds: The Smallest Living Birds, Beauty of Birds

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