More than half of the world’s migratory bird species are declining: Study
A new global study reveals that over 50% of migratory bird species are in decline due to environmental degradation. Researchers emphasize that these losses are not inevitable and call for science-based conservation frameworks.
Why it matters
Migratory birds are essential for ecosystem health, including seed dispersal and insect control; their decline signals a broader biodiversity crisis.
A new study led by researchers from Georgetown University and a collaboration of ornithologists from many global organisations, including the State of India’s Birds (SoIB) partnership, has revealed that more than half of the world’s migratory bird species are declining.
The authors of the study published in Nature Reviews Biodiversity estimate that approximately 51% of migratory bird species are declining globally across every major flyway on Earth.
While nearly 300 migratory species are already considered globally threatened, many once-common and widespread birds are also experiencing substantial population losses, underscoring the scale of the biodiversity crisis.
In India, this paper found that long-distance migratory birds like those that visit India from the Arctic were declining more rapidly than resident birds or shorter-distance migrants.
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