Migratory Bird Species in Decline, Report Warns

A new report from BirdLife International finds that 45% of migratory bird species are in decline, with 11% threatened with extinction. The report, launched at the Global Flyways Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, highlights the impact of invasive species, agricultural expansion, climate change, and residential development on bird populations. Seabirds and shorebirds are particularly threatened, as are species that depend on marine habitats, forests, and coastal wetlands. The report's lead author, Lucy Haskell, notes that migratory birds are sensitive indicators of ecosystem health and play a vital role in connecting ecosystems, cultures, and people. The loss of migratory bird species is a warning sign for the state of the planet, according to Haskell. The report cites the extinction of the slender-bill curlew, last seen in Morocco in 1995, as a poignant example of the pressures facing birds worldwide. However, experts point to the recovery of the Egyptian vulture in Spain as an example of how concerted conservation action can have a positive impact.