World Migratory Day, which falls annually on October 10, this year is celebrated under the slogan "Birds Connect Our World”.

This year’s theme highlights the importance of conserving and restoring the ecological connectivity and integrity of ecosystems that support the natural movements of migratory birds and that are essential for their survival and well-being, according to the World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) official website.

"Migratory birds are beneficial to us and the planet's ecosystems because they provide critical services such as seed dispersal, pollination, pest control and more,” WMBD wrote on its website.

On the occasion, Secretary-General of the United Nations António Guterres said: "The theme of this year’s World Migratory Day is ‘Birds Connect Our World’. As they travel the globe, migratory birds lift our spirits and remind us of nature, connecting people, ecosystems and nations.”

BirdLife International, a global partnership of conservation organisations that strives to conserve birds, wrote on Twitter: "Migratory birds face many threats on their journeys. Today we are raising awareness on their ecological importance and the need for international cooperation to preserve them.” 

The Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN) said that the world celebrates migratory birds in both May and October. 

"Migratory birds depend on a network of locations around the world for their immigration paths, whereas birds spend the cold winter, breed, nourish and get some rest before flying again,” the RSCN said.

The Jordan Valley is a key part of the Rift Valley-Red Sea Flyaway that functions as a "bridge” that connects Europe, Africa and Asia, supporting a variety of unique habitats, in addition to being a primary pathway for millions of migratory birds that cross it annually, according to the RSCN.