Migratory Bird Welfare and Hunting Seasons

Migratory birds including turtle doves and woodcock face welfare concerns from hunting during migration, when populations are already under stress from long journeys.

Key Facts

The European turtle dove has declined by 98% since the 1970s, with hunting pressure a contributing factor
Migratory birds in flight are in an already stressed physiological state from long-distance travel
Lead shot used in bird hunting poisons birds of prey that consume shot game birds
Wounded birds not recovered from hunting die slowly from injuries
Some EU countries have maintained spring hunting seasons that target birds during breeding migration

Welfare Considerations

Migratory bird hunting raises welfare concerns at both individual and population levels. Individual birds wounded and not recovered from hunting die from injuries over hours to days. Lead shot poisoning creates additional welfare harm for birds of prey and other scavengers. At the population level, hunting pressure on species already depleted by habitat loss, climate change, and agricultural intensification pushes them toward collapse. The European turtle dove is a particularly acute case, where hunting pressure on a species experiencing catastrophic decline has been argued to constitute both a conservation and welfare crisis. Welfare-focused hunting reforms including use of non-lead shot and banning hunting of vulnerable species provide meaningful improvement.

What You Can Do

Support bans on hunting migratory bird species with declining populations
Advocate for mandatory use of non-lead shot in all bird hunting
Support habitat restoration projects that help migratory bird recovery
Donate to organizations working on both migratory bird conservation and hunting reform
Oppose spring hunting seasons that target birds during breeding migration