On 8th May, 2021, the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership who partnered with Bowerbird Collective, launched the first ever WMBD Virtual Choir to celebrate World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) 2021 in line with the theme “Sing, Fly, Soar – Like a Bird!”. In a unique effort to celebrate and focus on the phenomena of “bird song” and “bird flight”, participants from twenty countries joined the virtual choir to raise their voices for migratory bird conservation.
To symbolize the connection between migratory birds and people with their unique songs and flights, the song was composed by Simone Slattery, an Australian violinist and music performed with Anthony Albrecht, a cellolist, both are founder of the Bowerbird Collective. The song has no lyrics so as to enable people from all over the world to join the virtual choir despite their languages and nationalities. Featured in the video were a few Flyway Sites showcasing how migratory birds rely on these habitats during their migratory journey, these include Roebuck Bay (EAAF 111) Australia; the Copper River Delta in Alaska; and wetlands in Southeast Asia.
Enjoy the WMBD 2021 theme song by the WMBD Virtual Choir
The virtual choir was made possible through the dedication of the participants from all over the world who submitted a recording of themselves singing like a bird to this WMBD theme song. These include:
Sopranos:
Rainbow Casey, United States
Jade Cooper, Australia
Cassie Guevara, Japan
Elizabeth Guy, United States
Emma Horwood, Australia
Anja Hoppe, Sweden
Heather Irwin, United States
Ruth Kilian, United Kingdom
Margaret May, Australia
Ruth Novak, United States
Sarah Pardys, United States
Sharon Pang, Hong Kong
Rosalind Holbrook, Australia
Emi So, Australia
Florence Jean Talirongan, Philippines
Debra Thangarajah, United States
Emma Williams, Netherlands
Altos:
Tegan Asser, Australia
Rachel Anne Balawag, Philippines
Ilse Bielen, Belgium
Michelle Karen Bilan, Philippines
Joanne Campbell, Australia
Catrina Clyne, United Kingdom
Rosalie Day, Australia
Kim Evans, United Kingdom
Iveta Gribuste, Latvia
Frances Grindlay, Australia
Elizabeth Guy, United States
Jeanette Hajncl, Australia
Marion Hill, United Kingdom
Emma Horwood, Australia
Jaime Jackett, Australia
Yoshi Jakosalem, Philippines
Eve Orenstein, United States
Theresa Sciberras, Canada
Lydia Sharrad, United States
Simone Slattery, Australia
Karen Stewart, Australia
Jessie Swan, Australia
Grace Vinaya Vinodkumar, India
Ming-chuan Woo, Hong Kong
Tenors:
John Carlo Bongales, Philippines
Richard Linley, United States
Timothy Reynolds, Australia
Philip Shaw, Australia
Maggie Slattery, Australia
Chung Long Tam, Hong Kong
Basses:
Nicholas Cannon, Australia
Alan Davies, Australia
Jose Duallo Jr., Philippines
David Greco, Australia
Richard Linley, United States
Daniel Luis, Philippines
Philip Shaw, Australia
Violin: Simone Slattery
Cello: Anthony Albrecht
Photography:
Duade Paton
Georgina Steytler
Graphic and Web Design:
Anthony Albrecht
Avian Footage:
Anthony Albrecht
Milo Burcham
Jan van der Kam
Chris Purnell
Smith Sutibut
Khemthong Tonsakulrungruang
Dan Weller
Bird calls:
www.xeno-canto.org
Some of the EAAFP Partners, including ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity, Ministry of the Environment – Japan, Wildlife and Wetlands Trust, Hong Kong Birdwatching Society, Hanns Seidel Foundation – Korea, Suara Indonesia Dance, Acehnese Dancer, International Crane Foundation, and colleagues at the EAAFP Secretariat sent their messages saying the WMBD 2021 theme “Sing, Fly, Soar – Like a Bird!” in their native languages.
Special mention also goes to the photographers and videographers who contributed the images and video footage of the migratory birds that were featured in the video: Duade Paton, Georgina Steytler, Anthony Albrecht, Milo Burcham, Jan van der Kam, Chris Purnell, Smith Sutibut, Khemthong Tonsakulrungruang, Dan Weller.
The WMBD Virtual Choir was a success due to the creativity and commitment of the Bowerbird Collective and the generous support of The East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership, Arts South Australia, and BirdLife International.
Click [here] for more information on the WMBD Virtual Choir.
