Wildlife

Wild Animal Welfare and Migratory Shorebird Welfare

Migratory shorebirds face welfare challenges during their extraordinary long-distance migrations, with stopover habitat protection being critical.

Key Facts

Bar-tailed godwits fly non-stop from Alaska to New Zealand - 11,000 km in 11 days
Shorebirds lose 50% of their body mass during major migratory legs
Intertidal stopover sites must remain undisturbed for birds to refuel before continuing migration
Climate change is affecting prey availability at key stopover sites used for millennia
Protected areas along the East Atlantic Flyway protect critical shorebird stopover habitats

Welfare Considerations

Migratory shorebird welfare depends on accessible, food-rich stopover habitats throughout their flyways. Protecting these sites prevents exhaustion and starvation on migration.

What You Can Do

Support Ramsar and Wetland of International Importance designations for shorebird stopover sites
Avoid disturbance of wading birds on estuaries during migration season
Advocate for intertidal habitat protection in coastal planning