Flyways
We protect birds as they make nature’s most epic journey
Twice a year, billions of migratory birds embark on extraordinary journeys across the globe, following specific routes known as flyways – sky super-highways. Their journeys take them south for the winter and back north in the spring to breed.
Migratory birds reach impressive speeds, heights, and distances. But their travels are fraught with risks and danger, much of it driven by human activity.
With the BirdLife Partnership uniting efforts across borders and continents, there is still time to secure a brighter future for these avian travellers, ensuring that migration remains one of nature’s most magnificent spectacles.
Our work
Illegal killing of birds
In the Mediterranean alone, over 25 million migratory birds are illegally killed every year. While some end up on dinner plates, most birds are hunted purely for sport, often outside legal hunting seasons.
Learn more about our work to stop the illegal killing of birds on our dedicated website.
Mitigating climate change
Timing is everything for migratory birds. With warmer temperatures occurring earlier in the year and more frequent droughts, birds are forced to migrate sooner, arriving to their breeding or wintering sites before food becomes available. This disruption has dire consequences, particularly for insect-eating species like songbirds, whose breeding success is severely impacted.
Discover more about our efforts to advocate for a carbon-neutral and nature-positive future here.
Protecting bird habitats
Deforestation, wetland drainage, and urban development are just some examples of how human activities are destroying crucial stopover sites and critical habitats that birds and nature depend on.
The BirdLife Partnership identifies, protects, and restores these vital locations, so birds, people, and nature can thrive.
Stopping threats from energy infrastructure
Energy infrastructure poses significant risks to migratory birds. Light pollution and unsafe powerlines lead to millions of fatalities each year through collisions and electrocutions. Soaring birds like eagles, falcons, storks, and buzzards, are particularly vulnerable.
Fortunately, there are many proven solutions. BirdLife advocates for technical standards across the EU to minimise these threats and protect migratory birds.
Flyways of our region
The African-Eurasian flyway
Stretching from the Arctic to southern Africa, the African-Eurasian flyway is one of four great global pathways used by over 500 migratory bird species.
However, at least 10% of these species face the threat of extinction. BirdLife Partners across the region work tirelessly to protect these birds and the habitats they depend on.
The Central-Asian Flyway
Though the shortest of the global flyways, the Central Asia flyway spans an impressive 30 countries, from icy Siberia to the tropical Maldives. It hosts over 600 migratory bird species, many of which endure the harsh challenge of crossing the Himalayas multiple times in their lives.
Unfortunately, over 48 species relying on this flyway are globally threatened, with 40% experiencing population declines.
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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. |
