The Environmental Edit Weekly

Good morning and happy St. Patrick’s Day! Today is Tuesday March 17^th, 2026. As we are already halfway through March we begin the start of spring, Friday March 20^th. With spring comes the great migration of birds that make their way up north for the warmer months. Have you ever wondered why birds migrate? What kind of birds migrate? Well, if not, we’ll get into that and more on this week’s edition of the Environmental Edit.  

When many people think of spring they think of warmer weather, blooming flowers, and fading into summer. However, for migratory birds it means homecoming and the celebration of life. As spring comes around an estimated 3.5 billion birds migrate North to their breeding grounds, according to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Birds have immaculate navigation skills and are able to navigate back to their breeding grounds effortlessly- no GPS for birds! The migration northward among Birds is very dangerous and many of them die because of natural processes however many birds die because of human made infrastructure. What’s the environmental effect; a drastic decrease in population and species biodiversity. While birds migrate to breed, they also migrate to exploit resources in the north as insects and other food sources start to emerge again. The birds are naturally drawn to northern areas given that they have more resources than their winter homestead. Migratory birds can be categorized into three levels: short-distance migrants, medium-distance migrants, and long-distance migrants. If you are also a bird fanatic, I recommend researching which birds may migrate into your neighborhood!

Across the pond on March 16^th, 2026, the European Commission and the United Nations Environment Program held a high-profile meeting discussing the future partnership between the two organizations. According to the European Commission, the meeting addressed the need for a environmental focus considering the growing geopolitical and environmental pressures. The two groups agreed on an extension of their partnership and a common goal of tackling environmental issues and damage.

How many miles does the Northern Wheatear, a songbird, travel each migration between the Arctic and Africa.

A. 9,000 Miles

B. 6,000 Miles

C. 13,000 Miles

D. 2,000 Miles

Correct answer at the end of the newsletter!

Many of the functions within your home can alter migratory birds’ journey to their final destination. Turn off lights at night! Many birds navigate at night and use the stars to direct themselves, by having your lights on you may alter their path. Bird-proof your windows! Installing ultraviolet stickers to your windows and ensuring gaps are no more than 2 inches apart can protect birds from flying into your windows and dying. These easy tricks can help protect their birds reach their home!

Hopefully by the end of this newsletter, you have empathy and compassion for the wild and thrilling migration journey of a bird. The answer was A! That will do it for this week’s edition of the Environmental Edit! Share this with friends and family and remember, Tuesdays for a Greener Tomorrow.