Shorebird Welfare: Migratory Challenges and Conservation

Shorebirds undertake some of the longest migrations of any animal. Their welfare during migration is threatened by habitat loss at refueling stopover sites, hunting pressure, and climate change affecting breeding grounds.

Key Facts

Bar-tailed godwits fly non-stop for up to 11,000 km from Alaska to New Zealand — the longest non-stop migration of any animal.
Red knots depend on Delaware Bay horseshoe crab eggs as a critical fuel source during spring migration; overharvesting of crabs has devastated knot populations.
An estimated 50% of the world's shorebird species are declining, with intertidal habitat loss a primary driver.
Hunting of shorebirds during migration remains legal in some range countries and may affect population recovery.
Climate change is shifting the timing of Arctic insect emergence that shorebird chicks depend on for food.

Welfare Considerations

Migratory shorebirds face extreme physiological demands during migration — organs shrink and regrow to accommodate the metabolic costs of ultra-long flights. Stopover sites where birds rest and refuel are critical; habitat loss or prey depletion at these sites leaves exhausted birds unable to complete migration, causing starvation or disorientation-related mortality. Climate-driven phenological mismatches between shorebird arrival and food availability on breeding grounds cause chick starvation. The welfare costs are borne by individual birds in extreme physiological states, making stopover site protection and breeding ground conservation urgent welfare priorities.

What You Can Do

Support stopover habitat protection programs for shorebird migration routes.
Donate to Delaware Bay conservation programs protecting horseshoe crab spawning habitat.
Advocate for international hunting regulations protecting migratory shorebirds.
Participate in shorebird monitoring programs during migration through local wildlife trusts.
Reduce carbon footprint to limit climate impacts on Arctic breeding habitat.