Migratory Bird Extinction Crisis Revealed in Global Report
A new global report states one in nine migratory birds is threatened with extinction, with 45% of species in decline.
One in nine migratory bird species faces extinction, and 45% are in decline. These findings come from the State of the World’s Birds report by BirdLife International, released at the Global Flyways summit in Nairobi, Kenya.
The report details overwhelming human-caused threats. These include intensive farming, unsustainable hunting, pollution, invasive species, and global heating. Seabirds and shorebirds, which rely on marine and coastal habitats, are faring particularly badly.
Stuart Butchart, chief scientist at BirdLife International, framed the issue. "Migratory birds are sentinels, and their declines reveal growing pressure on the natural systems that sustain us," he said. He added that coordinated conservation action can prevent extinctions.
Major Threats Along the Flyways
The threats are numerous and severe. Persecution is a major problem. An estimated 13.1 million to 42.7 million migratory birds are illegally killed or taken annually across Europe, the Mediterranean, the Caucasus, and the Arabian peninsula. Many are songbirds caught for human consumption.
Invasive species, like rodents on remote breeding islands, devastate colonies. Habitat loss is another prime cause. The report finds that 58% of 1,099 key biodiversity areas for migratory birds are in poor or very poor condition.
The migratory slender-billed curlew was declared extinct last year. It is the first global bird extinction in mainland Eurasia and Africa in recent centuries. Worldwide, seven migratory bird species have been confirmed or suspected extinct over the last 150 years.
Conservation Success Stories
The report also highlights successful interventions. On Australia's Macquarie Island, eradicating invasive rabbits, cats, rodents, and weka birds led to a resurgence. Populations of blue petrels, grey petrels, white-headed petrels, and Antarctic prions recovered.
In China, a program to remove invasive smooth cordgrass has restored 37,553 hectares of vital mudflats in its first year. This action reopened food-rich habitats for shorebirds.
In Britain, wetland restoration at Wallasea Island in Essex has seen dramatic returns. Peaks of over 32,000 waterbirds have been recorded, including 11,270 red knots.
Financial Commitments and Global Cooperation
At the Nairobi summit, governments and institutions signed the Nairobi Flyways Declaration. Three development banks are integrating flyway conservation into their lending, providing $6 billion for habitat protection and restoration.
Further financial pledges were outlined. The Asian Development Bank plans to mobilise $3 billion over ten years to protect at least 50 priority wetlands in the east Asian-Australasian flyway. The Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean is mobilising $3 billion to $5 billion up to 2050 for over 30 landscapes and seascapes. The World Bank and BirdLife have pledged several billion dollars for flyways in Africa, Europe, and Asia used by over 2 billion birds.
Princess Takamado of Japan, honorary president of BirdLife International, welcomed the cooperation. "Migratory birds do not recognise borders," she said. The declaration, she noted, acknowledges the need for international coordination to keep them safe.
Martin Harper, BirdLife's chief executive, called it a turning point. He said development banks are rising to the challenge but urged governments, businesses, and civil society to also step up. The goal is to reverse the declines and save the phenomenon of migration itself.
