World Seabird Day
Seabird researchers and enthusiasts observe this date to increase awareness of the continuous conservation risks to seabird populations.
World Seabird Day will be celebrated on July 3, 2024, marking its 7th anniversary.
Since 2017, WSU has celebrated World Seabird Day!
World Seabird Day is held on July 3, marking when the extinct Great Auk (Pinguinus impennis) was last seen in 1844. The Great Auk was a large flightless bird native to the North Atlantic. Great Auks bred in colonies on rocky islands off the coasts of the North Atlantic. This included St. Kilda, the Faroe Islands, Iceland, and Funk Island off Newfoundland. Researchers have found subfossil remains as far south as Florida, Spain, and Italy.
Many seabird species face threats due to human activities, such as oil spills and getting caught in fishing nets. They also face threats from climate change and severe weather.
The World Seabird Union invites everyone to share the hashtag #WorldSeabirdDay to spread the word about common threats to seabirds and fun and easy ways to help seabird conservation.