News Flyways

Migration is becoming more and more hazardous for birds © Amy Johansson

7 things we’re doing to protect migratory birds

Fri, 12/10/2018

This year, we held the first ever global summit for flyways conservation, uniting a panoply of countries and sectors. On World Migratory Bird Day, we’re sharing some of the most important decisions we made in order to ensure the miracle of migration will be there for future generations to enjoy.

Worldwide

The rufa Red Knot is a sub-species of Red knot that migrates through the Americas © Hans Hillewaert

Red Knots plummet by 25% in a year in Tierra del...

Mon, 09/07/2018

For a while, it looked like they might actually be in recovery. But this year’s census of the American subspecies, the rufa Red Knot, found that numbers have plummeted to an all-time low. The likely cause? Food shortages in Delaware Bay, a crucial feeding stopover site on their migration.

Worldwide Argentina Bahamas Brazil Canada Colombia United States of America

100 organisations from 70 countries gathered under one roof to tackle threats to migratory birds © Pawel Horazy

A Summit for the Flyways: our declaration

Fri, 27/04/2018

Today marked the end of a four-day global summit, which brought together key players in bird conservation from across the world to discuss one issue: how to protect migratory birds at every point along their epic journey. Here’s what we decided.

Worldwide United Arab Emirates

The summit will address how best to conserve the world's migration superhighways © Shutterstock

Everything you need to know about our upcoming...

Mon, 26/03/2018

This April, some of the greatest minds of the conservation world will assemble at a global summit in Abu Dhabi, to thrash out the issues threatening our migratory birds. Below, we give a summary of the pressing topics we’ll be discussing.

Worldwide United Arab Emirates

"Spoonie" Spoon-billed Sandpiper, a Critically Endangered migratory bird species © Pavel Tomkovich

How Small Actions Can Make A Big Difference

Fri, 15/12/2017

2018 will be “Year of the Bird”, thanks to an exciting new campaign with National Geographic, National Audubon Society and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. We’re calling on you to “bird your world”, starting with discovering why your backyard is a jigsaw piece for an entire continent…

Worldwide Canada Mexico United States of America

Once super-abundant, the Yellow-breasted Bunting is now listed as Critically Endangered © Sergey Yeliseev

Is the Yellow-breasted Bunting the next Passenger...

Tue, 17/10/2017

Wide-scale, unchecked hunting has, in the space of just three decades, driven frightening declines in two widespread bunting species, on both sides of the Eurasian landmass. Armed with our scientific findings, the BirdLife Partnership is now working to help buntings recover.

Worldwide China Hong Kong (China)Japan Russia United States of America

Slender-Billed Curlew, Morocco, 1995 © Chris Gomersall

Chasing ghosts: how technology is helping track...

Tue, 18/04/2017

A groundbreaking new technique, which studies tiny atoms left in feathers, is telling us where we should look for the vanishingly rare Slender-billed Curlew.

Worldwide Kazakhstan Morocco United Kingdom

“Waterbird’s paradise” shortlisted for World...

Wed, 05/04/2017

14 sites across the Yellow Sea of China are to be considered for World Heritage status – fantastic news for endangered migratory birds such as the Spoon-billed Sandpiper.

Worldwide China North Korea South Korea

“Stop the Killing”: Lebanese President speaks out...

Wed, 05/04/2017

Lebanon's President Aoun has made a heartfelt pledge to prevent the annual slaughter of the thousands of migratory birds who fly over the country twice a year.

Worldwide Lebanon

Curlews in crisis?

Tue, 07/03/2017

New research suggests that the Numeniini - a tribe of large waders including Curlews and Godwits - could be the most endangered birds you've never heard about.

Worldwide Argentina Australia Canada China South Korea United Kingdom

The tiny transmitters tracking birds from North...

Fri, 10/02/2017

Our knowledge of the movements of migratory birds across the Americas will be radically increased with the expansion of a high-tech bird tracking initiative.

Americas Canada Colombia Panama Paraguay

Saving the Egyptian Vulture – Have your say!

Tue, 24/01/2017

As part of the EU LIFE+ project ‘The Return of the Neophron’, a public consultation exercise on its plan to save the Egyptian Vulture has just been launched.

Europe and Central Asia

Birds killed by collision and electrocution by powerlines in Kassala State, Sudan © Ibrahim Hashim

How many more killer powerlines are there in...

Mon, 09/01/2017

Millions of migratory birds could be dying due to electrocution and collisions with electricity cables in an expanding power sector in Sudan.

Africa Sudan

New Sociable Lapwing habitats discovered in...

Tue, 12/04/2016

Very little was known about the Critically Endangered species' migratory route through Central and South Asia. That could soon change.

Europe and Central Asia Uzbekistan

Finnish team wins third 'Champions of the...

Mon, 11/04/2016

In all, 243 species were seen during the 24 hours of the race by all teams.

Europe and Central Asia Israel

Striking the wind beneath migratory birds’ wings

Thu, 10/03/2016

Since wind keeps birds in the air and drives turbines that produce energy, migratory routes see regular human-avian conflict. No points for guessing who wins.

Europe and Central Asia Egypt Sudan