Protecting birds on one of nature's most demanding journeys
Migratory birds undertake extraordinary journeys — some covering 20,000+ kilometers — twice annually. These journeys expose birds to multiple severe welfare challenges: exhaustion, starvation, dehydration, predation, severe weather, anthropogenic obstacles (windows, turbines, hunting), and habitat degradation at critical stopover points. Over 40% of migratory bird species globally are in decline, with welfare implications at both individual and population levels.
Stopover habitat degradation: Birds require adequate food and shelter at critical stopover points to refuel. Loss of coastal wetlands, river margins, and meadows along migration routes forces birds to continue migration in depleted condition, increasing mortality risk and welfare costs of exhaustion.
Light pollution: Artificial light at night disrupts migratory orientation, draws birds into urban areas, and causes collision with lit buildings. An estimated 100 million birds die annually from building collision in North America alone. "Lights Out" programs during peak migration periods can reduce collisions by 80%.
Mediterranean hunting: Legal and illegal hunting along European migration routes kills tens of millions of birds annually. Malta, Cyprus, and parts of Italy and France have historically permitted spring hunting of protected species. EU enforcement and NGO monitoring are gradually reducing illegal takes.
Climate change is disrupting migratory timing, causing mismatch between bird arrival and peak food availability. Long-distance migrants whose timing is genetically fixed are most vulnerable. Welfare implications: birds arriving too early face food shortage and cold stress; birds arriving too late miss peak insect abundance for chick-rearing. Phenological mismatch is reducing breeding success and causing population welfare decline across many species.