One in nine migratory birds face extinction
A BirdLife International report reveals 11% of migratory birds are threatened with extinction, with 45% in decline.
One in nine migratory bird species is threatened with extinction, according to a new global assessment. The State of the World’s Birds report, produced every four years by BirdLife International, also finds that 45% of migratory species are in decline.
The report was launched at the Global Flyways summit in Nairobi, Kenya. There, governments, scientists, and conservation groups signed the Nairobi Flyways Declaration, a commitment to boost protection for birds along their migratory routes. Three development banks are integrating flyway conservation into their lending, providing $6 billion for habitat work.
Stuart Butchart, chief scientist at BirdLife International, framed the findings starkly. "Migratory birds are sentinels, and their declines reveal growing pressure on the natural systems that sustain us," he said. He added that coordinated conservation action can prevent extinctions.
Major threats to migratory species
Human activity drives the overwhelming majority of threats. These include intensive farming, unsustainable hunting, pollution, invasive species, and global heating. The report officially declared the migratory slender-billed curlew extinct last year. It is the first global bird extinction in mainland Eurasia and Africa in recent centuries.
Seabirds and shorebirds are faring particularly badly. Persecution is a severe problem, with an estimated 13.1 million to 42.7 million migratory birds illegally killed or taken annually across Europe, the Mediterranean, the Caucasus, and the Arabian peninsula. Many are songbirds caught for food.
Invasive species, like rodents on remote breeding islands, pose another major danger. Habitat loss is critical too. Monitoring shows that 58% of 1,099 key biodiversity areas for migratory birds are in poor or very poor condition.
Conservation successes offer hope
The report documents how cross-border conservation can revive populations. On Australia’s Macquarie Island, eradicating invasive rabbits, cats, rodents, and weka birds led to a resurgence of several seabird species.
In China, a nationwide program removed invasive smooth cordgrass from coastal mudflats. In its first year, it restored 37,553 hectares, reopening vital feeding grounds for shorebirds. In Britain, wetland restoration at Wallasea Island in Essex has seen peaks of over 32,000 waterbirds return, including 11,270 red knots.
New financial commitments for flyways
The summit outlined substantial new funding pledges aimed at protecting migratory routes. The financial commitments from development banks target specific flyways and their critical habitats.
| Institution | Pledged Amount | Timeframe | Focus Area | Key Goal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asian Development Bank | $3 billion | Next decade | East Asian-Australasian flyway | Protect at least 50 priority wetlands |
| Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean | $3-$5 billion | Up to 2050 | Latin America & Caribbean | Safeguard over 30 landscapes/seascapes |
| World Bank & BirdLife International | Several billion dollars | Not specified | Africa, Europe, Asia flyways | Support routes used by over 2 billion birds |
Princess Takamado of Japan, honorary president of BirdLife International, welcomed the collective action. "Migratory birds do not recognise borders," she said. "The Nairobi Flyways Declaration acknowledges this reality."
Martin Harper, BirdLife's chief executive, called the declaration a turning point. He said development banks are rising to the challenge and urged governments, businesses, and civil society to also step up. The funds will also support nearly 200 million people who depend on these wetland ecosystems.
