Wildlife Welfare

Migratory Bird Hunting Mortality Welfare

Migratory birds face significant hunting pressure along flyways including the Mediterranean, with legal and illegal shooting causing substantial mortality and welfare harm.

Key Facts

An estimated 25 million migratory birds are killed illegally in the Mediterranean each year
Songbird trapping using lime sticks causes prolonged suffering before death
Cyprus alone is estimated to see 2.5 million birds killed illegally annually
Legal hunting of migratory species in EU member states remains controversial
BirdLife International and RSPB coordinate campaigns against illegal bird killing

Welfare Considerations

Migratory birds face exhausting journeys that are then compounded by hunting mortality. Illegal killing methods including lime sticks and mist nets cause particular suffering, representing both a conservation and welfare crisis along major flyways.

What You Can Do

Support BirdLife International's campaigns against illegal bird killing in the Mediterranean
Avoid visiting countries that fail to enforce illegal bird killing laws
Write to your MEP about the enforcement of EU bird protection directives