Wild Migratory Birds: Welfare Across International Borders

Migratory birds face welfare threats that span multiple countries and continents, requiring international cooperation to address the cumulative impacts of habitat loss, hunting, and climate change along flyways.

Key Facts

An estimated 25 million migratory birds are illegally killed in the Mediterranean region annually, primarily through trapping and shooting during autumn migration
Climate change is causing phenological mismatches — migrating birds arriving at staging areas before food sources have peaked — creating nutritional stress during demanding journeys
Artificial light at night disorients nocturnal migrants, causing building collisions and navigation errors that add energy costs and mortality to already demanding journeys
Wetland loss along migratory flyways eliminates critical staging habitats where birds must refuel for long-distance movement phases
International flyway frameworks including the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership coordinate conservation across the multiple countries that share migratory bird populations

Welfare Considerations

Migratory bird welfare is one of the most complex welfare problems because it requires coordinated action across the full geographic range of species that may span six continents. A bird protected in its breeding range is still vulnerable to illegal hunting at its wintering grounds or wetland loss at critical staging sites. Effective welfare improvement requires the international frameworks that match the international reality of migratory species' lives.

What You Can Do

Support international organizations working on flyway conservation and illegal bird trapping enforcement
Turn off unnecessary artificial lights during migration seasons to reduce building disorientation and collision risk
Support wetland conservation and restoration projects in critical migratory flyway regions
Advocate for international cooperation on migratory bird protection through binding flyway agreements