The Messina Strait: a narrow passage holding the fate of millions of birds

Raptors, storks, and a myriad of songbirds drift across the air between Sicily and Calabria, divided only by a narrow strip of sea. For millions of migratory birds, this small passage is more than another stop on their journey, it is a lifeline.

But this natural treasure is at risk. The Italian government’s plan to build a bridge across the Strait of Messina could endanger thousands of birds and disrupt one of Europe’s most important migratory corridors, with consequences reaching far beyond Italy.

A bottleneck of global importance
Together with Gibraltar and the Bosporus, the Strait of Messina is one of Europe’s three major migratory gateways. It is the single most important passage for the spring migration of raptors like the Honey Buzzard, Marsh Harrier, Montagu’s Harrier, and Red-footed Falcon. On peak days, the skies fill with thousands of birds overhead.

The corridor also funnels a large share of Europe’s songbirds – many already in steep decline across the continent – such as the Subalpine Warbler, Garden Warbler, Collared Flycatcher, and Wood Warbler. Seabirds also frequent the stretch of sea in the Strait of Messina, with some individuals coming from colonies in France and Malta.

Italy’s unique responsibility
Italy sits at the meeting point between Europe and Africa, acting as a key “hinge ” in the annual migrations of many species.

For many birds, survival depends on crossing two vast natural barriers: the Mediterranean Sea and the Sahara Desert. Neither offers rest for species that cannot land on water or endure extreme heat. Italy provides one of the final safe havens where birds can refuel before taking on the most dangerous parts of their journey.

While northern European countries focus on protecting breeding populations, Italy bears the added responsibility of ensuring migrating birds survive the passage itself. This gives the country a uniquely important role in conservation and one with international implications.

Old and new threats
Decades ago, poaching in the Strait of Messina posed a deadly threat to birds of prey, storks, and other migratory species. Thanks to a decade of persistent anti-poaching campaigns by associations like LIPU and WWF, along with the crucial operations of the Corpo Forestale dello Stato and significant backing from the European Union, this practice has been greatly reduced. But the proposed bridge could claim more birds than poaching ever did.

And the challenges don’t end there. Climate change is shifting seasonal conditions and expanding ecological barriers, like the expansion of the Sahara. As conditions grow harsher, Italy’s role as a safe corridor becomes even more critical. For many species, the Strait of Messina could mean the difference between survival and collapse.

A global commitment
Scientific evidence makes Italy’s crucial role along the migratory flyway clear. But safeguarding it requires more than knowledge: it demands strong legal protection.

International agreements like the EU Birds Directive, the Bonn and Ramsar Conventions, and the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement offer exactly that – a framework for protecting migratory birds while promoting sustainable cultural, social, and economic growth.

Among the species passing through the Strait of Messina are birds of “community interest,” including the ‘Critically Endangered’ Egyptian Vulture. These laws make protecting the Strait not just Italy’s responsibility and a national duty, but an urgent international obligation.

High cost for higher risks
The environmental concerns add to a long list of issues surrounding this project. While the bridge would reduce travel time between the two regions, the question remains: at what cost?

According to Il Sole 24 Ore, the total cost of the project is €13.532 billion, and Open Economics estimates that its impact on Italy’s GDP would exceed €23 billion. Such a high price seems disproportionate given its limited benefits.

The Strait of Messina is considered one of the most geologically and seismically unstable areas in Italy. The presence of active faults, a living reminder of devastating earthquakes like the one in 1908, raises serious doubts about the bridge’s long-term safety. Many experts argue that current research does not provide sufficient information to evaluate the actual risk level of the project.

Numerous groups and civil associations, not only environmentalists, oppose the construction of this bridge, citing both safety and cost concerns.

Protecting a living sky
The Strait of Messina is a crossroads where continents, ecosystems, and lives meet. Losing it as a safe passage would unravel decades of conservation progress and threaten the survival of countless species.

What happens here matters far beyond Italy. For now, the Strait remains a corridor of life, a living testament to the endurance of migratory birds. But its future hangs in the balance. Every decision made today will determine whether future generations will witness this extraordinary migration.

Cover picture: Giuseppe Giglio – Shutterstock