Wild Migratory Bird Welfare: Hazards Along Global Flyways

Migratory birds face extraordinary welfare challenges across international flyways. Reducing key mortality sources requires coordinated international conservation action.

Key Facts

An estimated 1-2 billion migratory birds die annually from human-caused mortality
Building collisions kill up to 1 billion birds per year in the United States alone
Illegal hunting of migratory birds kills tens of millions annually in the Mediterranean
Power line electrocution affects large species like storks and eagles disproportionately
Light pollution causes disorientation, collision, and exhaustion in migratory birds

Welfare Considerations

Migratory birds experience welfare harms at each stage of their journeys — collision injuries from glass buildings, exhaustion from light-induced disorientation, electrocution on power lines, and illegal trapping. Birds that survive collisions often die later from internal injuries or organ failure. Electrocuted birds experience acute pain if not immediately killed. Solutions include bird-safe building design, lights-out programs during migration seasons, power line modifications, and international enforcement of hunting bans. Each intervention directly reduces the scale of this largely preventable suffering.

What You Can Do

Treat windows with bird-safe films or decals to prevent collision
Turn off non-essential lighting during migration seasons
Support local lights-out programs during spring and fall migration
Advocate for bird-safe building standards in construction regulations