Every autumn, migratory birds lift off – crossing borders, crossing continents, flying between breeding grounds and wintering grounds. Wetlands, mudflats and forests are where they touch down to feed and rest before the next leg.

World Migratory Bird Day, the second of the year, falls on October 10 and comes under the theme "Every Bird Counts – Your Observations Matter!" The campaign makes the case that public sightings help scientists track migration routes, monitor populations and flag the habitats that need protecting.

China is home to 1,505 bird species, more than 800 of which have migratory habits. Four of the world's nine major migratory flyways pass through the country. A total of 821 key habitats have been identified for enhanced protection and restoration. A national survey in January 2026 recorded 6.324 million wintering waterbirds, with 81.8% of individuals found within protected areas.

A single sighting is a snapshot of a bird's journey. But put thousands together – across places, across years – and patterns emerge: migration timing shifts, numbers rise or fall, habitats change. That's what guides conservation.

This year also marks 60 years of the International Waterbird Census (IWC), a global monitoring program launched in 1967. Each year, volunteers and professionals count waterbirds at wetlands worldwide, building the long-term data that helps assess populations and flag sites for protection.

So whether you're logging a bird in a local park or joining a coordinated count, your record adds to the picture. Together, they tell the story of migratory birds – and help keep their journeys going, year after year.

Take a closer look at some of the migratory birds making their autumn journeys across continents.

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World Migratory Bird Day: Across oceans and skies, every bird counts