world seabird union

2024 End of year update

As we approach the end of 2024, I’m filled with pride and gratitude for the impact the World Seabird Union (WSU) has made over the last two years. This report summarizes our major initiatives, social media impact, website updates, and the planning for the upcoming World Seabird Conference (WSC) in 2026.

WSU’s initiatives over the last two years have set a strong foundation for global seabird conservation efforts. In 2023, we completed our first-ever strategic plan, which highlights our organizational strengths and directions- you can download the plan on our newly re-vamped website here. At the end of 2023, we welcomed our first paid staff member, Carrie Kovalick, who will serve as our communications coordinator. In case you are wondering about the individual behind all of our social media posts, Carrie gets full credit.

In 2024, we made strides in increasing seabird conservation awareness, expanding its digital presence, and fostering collaboration among global seabird organizations as we begin planning for our 2026 world seabird conference. We have ambitious goals for 2025 that include:

Goals for 2025

Enhance Global Outreach: Expand multilingual social media campaigns and develop educational resources that resonate across different regions.
Optimize Hybrid Conference Model: Finalize logistics for virtual participation in the WSC, ensuring high-quality accessibility for remote attendees.
Strengthen Membership and Partnerships: Increase collaboration with new seabird organizations and further integrate Seabirds.net resources into WSU’s digital ecosystem.
Improve Financial Stability: Continue diversifying income sources and implement best practices in managing long-term reserves.

If you’re part of the WSU donor and volunteer community, I hope you feel very proud to be making so much world-changing work possible. We have ambitious goals for 2025 and cannot accomplish them without donor support. All of us at WSU would be honored if you’d consider a gift as you think about your charitable giving this year.

Lindsay Young

Board Chair

Save the Date!
World Seabird Conference

World Seabird Conference is one of the largest gatherings of seabird conservationists, researchers, professionals, students, and supporters. Make new connections with colleagues in seabird science, research, management, business, and education. The conference will revolve around the theme of change, covering issues like climate impact, renewable energy, and marine biodiversity.

World Seabird Conference (WSC) 2026 Planning: The conference planning committee will prioritize a hybrid format to accommodate international attendees, addressing feedback from members concerned about travel costs and environmental impacts. WSU will collaborate with the Pacific Seabird Group (PSG) to explore a joint event, creating a platform for a diverse, global network of seabird professionals to exchange research and conservation strategies. Additionally, region-specific travel grants and potential live translation services are under consideration to maximize accessibility.

Social Media and Communications

WSU’s social media efforts, which have been led by our new communications coordinator, have highlighted international conservation days, educational resources, and seabird research, with content delivered across Facebook, Instagram, and the newly revived Twitter (X) account. Key topics included World Seabird Day and World Albatross Day, raising awareness about threats seabirds face, like climate change and bycatch. Posts showcased species diversity and seabirds’ ecological roles, gaining strong engagement and visibility. Our social media reach expanded through strategic partnerships and multilingual outreach, with posts gaining attention in regions such as Latin America and Australasia.

We’d love to highlight your Seabird conservation-related event, activity, news, stories, or announcement. Submit details about your event or activity, including a public description and a way for people to learn more, register, or take action.

Engagement Metrics: After analyzing Facebook data from July to September, WSU saw steady growth with a 72% engagement rate, particularly in educational and event-driven posts. New campaigns like “Seabirder Saturday” revived weekly activity, creating regular touchpoints with our audience

Logo Update: WSU held a logo poll favoring a tern-themed design that reflected a commitment to representing seabird diversity across hemispheres. With additional feedback, a finalized logo is expected by early 2025.

We’ve joined Bluesky! You can find us “@worldseabirdunion.bsky.social“. As more people arrive at Bluesky, a reminder to use the Seabirds feed for posts relating to seabird research, conservation, pelagics, seawatching, expeditions, identification & photography. #seabirds in your posts! See you there!

Website Performance and Upgrades

The redesigned WSU website, launched in early 2024, now serves as a comprehensive resource for seabird conservationists. The site houses interactive tools, including the Global Seabird Colony Register, designed to foster data sharing and collaboration. The website update improved the user experience, featuring a more intuitive layout, direct event registration options, and donation integration. Engagement statistics between April and September showed increased page views and user retention, attributed to a strategic emphasis on relevant, timely content such as blog posts on avian flu and plastics in marine environments.

Website Traffic Highlights:

Organic search accounted for 85% of website sessions, while direct traffic grew by 93% due to improved SEO and social media promotions.

Strategic Additions:

The site now includes multilingual support for key information, ensuring broader accessibility for non-English-speaking regions. Planned enhancements involve integrating real-time avian flu updates to assist global seabird health monitoring.

Financials and Funding

WSU is thrilled to be the recipient of a three-year grant from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, which will support operational and outreach activities in Asia and beyond. Financial sustainability remains a priority; in response, the board explored options for interest-bearing accounts to optimize reserves. Additionally, WSU is exploring new sponsorship opportunities and digital fundraising channels to enhance conference funding.

We’d Love to Hear From You

We’d love to share your Seabird conservation event, activity, news, stories, or announcements! You can submit details through our website or email [email protected].