Global Report: 45% of Migratory Birds in Decline Amid $6bn Conservation Pledge

Key points

• 45% of 1,843 assessed migratory species are in decline, while 11% are threatened with extinction.
• The Slender-billed Curlew was declared extinct in 2025, marking the first mainland Eurasian/African bird extinction in centuries.
• Seabirds and shorebirds face the steepest declines, with 54% and 49% of species decreasing respectively.
• The Nairobi Flyways Declaration secured $6bn in funding from the Asian Development Bank, World Bank, and others.
• Human activities, including farming, hunting, and invasive species, are the primary drivers of population loss.

Background

This report follows recent local examples of habitat adaptation, such as Melbourne’s Werribee Wetland, which now supports 300 bird species despite being a sewage farm. It also contrasts with paleontological findings on ancient bird evolution, highlighting the current urgency of protecting living species from human-driven threats.

How outlets are covering it

The Guardian and BirdLife International emphasize the severity of the decline, noting that 58% of key biodiversity areas are in poor condition. UA.NEWS provides specific breakdowns, detailing that 32 species are critically endangered and 57 are endangered. While all sources agree on the $6bn funding commitment, BirdLife International highlights successful recovery cases, such as the blue petrel in Australia and red knots in the UK, whereas The Guardian focuses more heavily on the scale of illegal hunting and habitat loss in Europe and Asia.

Why it matters

Migratory birds serve as indicators for the health of global natural systems. Their decline signals broader environmental instability, while the new financial commitments represent a shift toward coordinated, cross-border conservation strategies rather than isolated national efforts.

What to watch

Development banks will begin integrating flyway conservation into lending frameworks. The Asian Development Bank plans to protect 50 priority wetlands, while the World Bank and BirdLife International will support routes used by over 2 billion birds. Governments are expected to implement the Nairobi Declaration to curb illegal hunting and restore habitats.