Migratory Birds in Europe and Central Asia

Migratory birds are some of the most inspiring and impressive groups of birds. This is not only because of the spectacular views they offer as they move across the sky but also because of the incredible distances they cover during their voyages.

Migratory birds mark the seasons leaving their breeding areas before food gets scarce and landing on another continent to build a new life. When we enjoy the presence and behaviour of these migratory birds we hope and even assume that they will return each year. Unfortunately many migratory species, especially the long-distance migrants do not return.

The BirdLife Partnership works to identify, tackle or mitigate the main causes of the decline of migratory birds mainly through international projects and policy work:

Here are some examples of our work:

Projects

Saltpan Recovery Project

BirdLife Partners join forces to save the precious saltpans of Southern Europe and Northern Africa, and the striking birds that rely on them.

Safe Flyways Programme

Every migration is a massacre: illegal trapping and hunting, collision with energy sector infrastructure and loss of key stop-over feeding and resting sites.

Spring Alive

Spring Alive is an international campaign to encourage children’s interest in nature and the conservation of migratory birds. By posting their first sightings of Barn Swallow, White Stork, Common Cuckoo, Common Swift, and European Bee-eater on the www.springalive.net website, children from Europe, Central Asia and Africa create a real-time map of the incredible journeys these birds take every year.

The arid zones of the Sahel Photo: Danae Sheehan

Living on the Edge: improving migratory bird...

Around the world, many migratory bird species are sharply declining in numbers, and these declines are indicative of the threats facing the wider environment.

Northern Bald Ibis rarest bird in Middle East

Northern Bald Ibis Geronticus eremita is classified as Critically Endangered, the highest threat category according to IUCN criteria, with the only remaining wild colonies known in Morocco (100 pairs) and Syria (two pairs).

Wings over Wetlands (WOW)

Bird migration is one of the great wonders of the natural world. Yet each year, fewer birds of many species return to their breeding grounds, because the sites they depend on to rest and refuel while on their long journey from their wintering grounds have been damaged or developed.

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News

Anti-poaching camps give honey-buzzard sweet taste of success

Mon, 08/04/2019 - 00:01

The European Honey-buzzard is fearless in the face of stinging wasps and hornets - but it has no defence against illegal shooting for sport. In Italy, “anti-poaching camps” sparked an extremely successful movement which has saved thousands of honey-buzzards.

Europe and Central Asia Italy

Large, flat planes of glass are especially dangerous to birds © John McHugh / Flickr

How can we REALLY prevent birds from flying into our windows?

Mon, 11/03/2019 - 16:27

Why do birds collide with windows, and how can we help? We explore the science behind bird collisions and dispel some common myths about how to prevent them, shining a spotlight on exciting projects across the world that are making a real difference. And you can join in!

Worldwide

The Egyptian Vulture was once nicknamed the "Pharaoh's Chicken" © BirdLife Europe

World’s only tool-using vulture risks being lost forever

Thu, 28/02/2019 - 11:45

Hailed for its intelligence and majesty, the Egyptian Vulture was admired and worshipped throughout history. But decimated by poisoning, electrocution and illegal trophy hunting, the bird that was once an Ancient Egyptian hieroglyph is now Endangered. Can we save it before it’s too late?

Europe and Central Asia Bulgaria Egypt

Flight for Survival - Spring Migration 2019

Mon, 25/02/2019 - 22:33

This spring, BirdLife is telling the spectacular migratory stories of seven iconic birds – exposing the illegal threats they face along the African-Eurasian flyway.

Europe and Central Asia Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Egypt Greece Hungary Italy Lebanon

Hula Valley Reserve is a key stopover for migrating birds on the African-Eurasian Flyway © Protasov AN

Protecting waterbird habitats to combat the impacts of climate change

Fri, 01/02/2019 - 11:47

How will wetlands, estuaries and other essential waterbird habitats be affected by climate change? The new Climate Resilient Flyway Project pinpoints sites that will be hardest hit, and unites countries and organisations in order to protect them and their essential functions.

Worldwide

Shipment of illegally killed birds discovered in Slovenia

Mon, 12/11/2018 - 16:39

Our Slovenian partner DOPPS reports on the alarming discovery of a huge shipment of illegally killed birds discovered in Slovenia en route to Italy last month. Significant numbers of Red-thorated pipit, White wagtail and Meadow pipit were found amongst a haul of over a thousand individuals birds.

Europe and Central Asia Italy Romania Slovenia

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Stichting BirdLife Europe gratefully acknowledges financial support from the European Commission. All content and opinions expressed on these pages are solely those of Stichting BirdLife Europe. The European Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains.

Migratory Birds in Europe and Central Asia

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