BirdLife's Flyways Programme

NASA Every year, migratory birds brave mountains, oceans, deserts and storms on their journeys to survive. Zoom In

Welcome to BirdLife’s flyways webpages. Here you can find out more about BirdLife’s work to help migratory birds around the world.

One of nature’s greatest miracles

Every year, migratory birds brave mountains, oceans, deserts and storms on their journeys to survive. Their epic flights connect us all - crossing our borders, cultures and lives. An estimated 1,855 (19%) of all known birds species make regular cyclical movements beyond their breeding grounds with predictable timing and destinations.

Migratory birds are disappearing

In 2008, 11% of migratory birds were classed by BirdLife International as threatened or Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List. Red List indices show that these migrants have become more threatened since 1988, with 33 species deteriorating and just six improving in status.

Analysis of the main threats shows that there are two key pressures which affect nearly 80% of migratory species. These pressures are agriculture which results in habitat degradation and loss, and biological resource use which includes threats such as deforestation and unsustainable hunting. Other important threats include collisions with wind turbines, electrocution by power lines, deliberate persecution, poisoning, pollution and disturbance during the breeding period, and. Many existing threats are likely to be exacerbated by climate change.

BirdLife’s best placed to help

The BirdLife Partnership is extremely well placed to undertake action for migratory birds. BirdLife Partners operate in over one hundred countries and territories worldwide, and work together to raise awareness about migratory birds and implement conservation projects. International collaboration is the only way to conserve migratory birds as they pass along their flyways.

Three major global flyways

BirdLife Partners are working in the three main global flyways to conserve migratory birds. Click to find out more about our work in the:

• African-Eurasian Flyway - yellow
• Americas Flyway - blue
• East Asian-Australasian Flyway - red

Born to Travel - The BirdLife Flyways Campaign

The Born to Travel campaign is aiming to improve the conservation status of migratory birds and their habitats along the African-Eurasian Flyway. To get involved in the campaign, please click here.

News flying hot off the press!

Read the latest news about migratory birds around the globe by clicking here.