The latest edition of BirdLife International’s State of the World’s Birds report reveals that 45% of migratory bird species are in decline, and 11% are threatened with extinction. Launched at the Global Flyways Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, this report is the first to specifically focus on migratory birds.
Migratory birds serve as sensitive indicators of broader ecosystem health and connect ecosystems, cultures, and people. Major threats identified include invasive species, agricultural expansion, climate change, development, and hunting. Seabirds, shorebirds, and species dependent on marine habitats, forests, and coastal wetlands are noted as particularly imperiled. The report cites the confirmed extinction of the slender-bill curlew as an example of the pressures facing these species.
Source: Mongabay