Wildlife

Wild Migratory Bird Hunting and Welfare

Hunting of migratory birds during their journeys causes welfare harm and affects population sustainability across flyways.

Key Facts

An estimated 25 million migratory birds are killed annually in the Mediterranean alone
Hunting during migration is legal in some countries that are signatory to international treaties
Wounded birds that escape hunters die slowly from injuries
Spring hunting kills birds in breeding condition, compounding population effects
International agreements such as the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement aim to coordinate protection

Welfare Considerations

Birds wounded during migratory hunting and not retrieved die slowly from infection, exhaustion, and injury. The welfare of individual birds is compounded by population-level effects on species already stressed by habitat loss and climate change. Reducing illegal and unsustainable hunting is both a welfare and conservation priority.

What You Can Do

Support campaigns against illegal migratory bird trapping and hunting
Advocate for EU enforcement of migratory bird protection regulations
Donate to organisations monitoring and documenting illegal bird killing