Every year, billions of birds embark on extraordinary journeys across continents and oceans, connecting ecosystems and playing vital roles in nature. From the bobolink traveling from North American grasslands to the Pampas of South America, to the Newell’s shearwater soaring across the North Pacific, these birds face numerous threats that put their survival at risk.
Their migrations are among nature’s greatest spectacles, but the habitats and ecological connections they depend on are increasingly under threat. A comprehensive assessment of over 3,380 migratory bird species reveals that more than half are in decline due to habitat loss, invasive species, collisions, hunting, and other factors.
The critical role of migratory birds
Migratory birds are essential for pollination, seed dispersal, pest control, and nutrient transport between ecosystems. Their declines signal a growing breakdown in ecosystems that sustain both wildlife and people. Fortunately, humans now have the tools to reverse these declines.
Advancements in technology, such as miniature tracking devices, genetics, and citizen-science initiatives like eBird, have transformed our understanding of migratory birds’ habits and the risks they face. For the first time, scientists can follow individual birds across continents and determine where conservation actions will have the greatest impact.
Protecting birds across their epic journeys
Traditional conservation efforts have focused on protecting important places like breeding grounds and wetlands. While these efforts remain indispensable, they are often not enough to conserve species whose lives unfold across continents and oceans. A new approach is needed: conserving the entire annual cycle of migratory birds.
This strategy involves protecting and restoring important places, reducing threats wherever they occur, and relying on international cooperation. For example, the bobolink’s breeding habitat in North America must be conserved, but so must its nonbreeding habitat in South America. Similarly, Newell’s shearwaters face threats in Hawaii, where artificial lights and introduced predators endanger their populations.
The Road to Recovery initiative
In the United States, the Road to Recovery initiative is designed to reverse the losses of North America’s fastest-declining bird species before they require protection under endangered species legislation. This initiative brings together scientists, governments, conservation organizations, landowners, and local communities to develop conservation strategies for species like bobolinks and lesser yellowlegs.
International agreements, such as the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, provide ways for nations to work together to conserve migratory species across political boundaries. However, the effectiveness of these agreements is hindered when many of the world’s largest and most influential countries have not signed on.
Applying lessons for a brighter future
Conservation initiatives around the world demonstrate that when threats are identified and addressed, bird populations recover. The challenge now is applying what science has found. Governments, landowners, businesses, conservation organizations, and individuals all have roles to play in protecting and restoring habitat and reducing threats.
Next spring, migratory birds will once again embark on their epic journeys. Whether future generations can continue to see these magnificent migrations will depend on the choices of current generations and the steps they take to save them.
