Migratory Bird Welfare: The Journey and Its Hazards

Billions of birds undertake transcontinental migrations each year, facing gauntlets of human-made hazards. Their welfare during migration is one of the most significant wildlife welfare challenges.

Key Facts

Over 4,000 bird species migrate, some covering over 70,000 km per round trip
The bar-tailed godwit flies non-stop from Alaska to New Zealand — 11,000 km in 11 days
An estimated 1 to 2 billion birds are killed by hunting during migration in the Mediterranean each year
Wind turbines, power lines, and communication towers kill millions of birds during migration
Stopover habitat loss means birds cannot refuel, leading to exhaustion and starvation deaths
Climate change is misaligning migration timing with food availability along migration routes

Welfare Considerations

Migratory birds undertaking long flights experience profound physiological stress — they burn muscle protein, suppress immune function, and operate at the edge of physiological capacity. Birds that lose stopover habitat cannot refuel and may die of starvation mid-journey. Hunters targeting migratory birds in the Mediterranean (primarily songbirds) kill animals at their most vulnerable — exhausted and weakened after sea crossings. Wind turbines and power lines kill birds through sudden collision or electrocution. Climate-driven phenological mismatch means birds arrive at breeding grounds to find the insect peaks they depend on have already passed.

What You Can Do

Support Mediterranean campaign organisations working to end illegal songbird hunting
Advocate for bird-safe wind turbine design standards and mandatory mortality monitoring
Plant native vegetation that provides high-quality stopover habitat in your garden
Donate to organisations working on climate adaptation for migratory bird species