World Migratory Bird Day: Safeguarding the Journeys that Bind Ecosystems

Each spring, World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) celebrates the awe-inspiring journeys of migratory birds. Marked globally in May and again in autumn, it reminds us that these feathered travellers are deeply connected to the health of our planet.

From tiny warblers to majestic geese, these birds link continents, cultures, and ecosystems. Their migrations herald seasonal change and sustain ecological processes, making their protection a shared responsibility. This article explores their critical habitats, the importance of connectivity, sustainable solutions, and the vital role of conservationists.

Critical Habitats for Migratory Birds

Wetlands in Southern France (Camargue)

The Camargue, located at the Rhône River delta, is France’s largest wetland and a vital stopover for birds migrating between Africa and Europe. Two-thirds of Europe’s bird species visit this mosaic of lagoons and marshes, including the nation’s only Greater Flamingo nesting colony.

Flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber) in the Camargue, Arles, France.

However, the Camargue faces serious threats. River embankments, rice farming, and mismanaged flooding cycles have disrupted natural water flows. Overgrazing, pollution, and pesticide runoff further degrade the habitat. Conservationists promote sustainable water use—such as organic rice farming and seasonal flooding that mimics natural rhythms—to balance human needs with ecological health.

Vegetated Shingle Habitats

Though sparse and gravelly, vegetated shingle beaches are ecological gems. Hardy plants like sea kale, thrift, and horned poppy stabilise these coasts and provide seeds and nectar for migrating birds. Vegetated shingle habitats are globally rare, found mainly in the UK, Japan, and New Zealand. 

The Importance of Connectivity in Migration

One of the themes of this year’s research in ornithology is migratory connectivity – the idea that a bird’s breeding, stopover, and wintering sites are all linked, and what happens in one place can affect the bird’s entire population. A study in Nature Ecology & Evolution analysed data from 329,000 birds of 112 species and found that connectivity is the strongest predictor of risk.

Species that rely on a few critical sites are especially vulnerable. For instance, birds migrating between Canada and South America face risks from climate and land-use changes. Conservation must therefore protect entire habitat networks, not just isolated sites. Migratory birds are global connectors, and their survival depends on safeguarding the full length of their routes.

Sustainability and It's Impact on Migratory Birds

Bird-Friendly Farming

Agriculture spans many migratory stopovers, yet farms can become sanctuaries through bird-friendly practices. In California’s Central Valley, the BirdReturns project pays rice farmers to create “pop-up” wetlands on their off-season fields. 

By flooding rice paddies a bit earlier in autumn and keeping them wet into spring, farmers have added tens of thousands of acres of temporary wetland habitat during key migration periods. These seasonal wetlands have provided life-saving rest stops for millions of shorebirds and waterfowl that migrate along the Pacific Flyway.

In Europe, leaving crop stubble over winter and using fewer pesticides supports insect-eating songbirds. Organic farming boosts insect abundance, improving survival for migrating birds. Even small farming changes make a significant difference as birds navigate human-altered landscapes.

Wildlife-Sensitive Urban Planning

Urban development poses hazards to migratory birds, especially at night. ‘Lights Out’ campaigns encourage buildings to dim lights during peak migration, significantly reducing bird collisions—an 80% drop was recorded at one Chicago site over 20 years.

Lights Out For Birds, Chicago, © BirdCast.

While bird strikes are a major issue in North America (due to concentrated flyways like the Great Lakes region), in Europe migration occurs over a broader front. Urban planners are also integrating green roofs and parks as “stepping stones” for birds moving through cityscapes. For example, wheatears are often seen on green roofs in London, suggesting urban habitats can provide useful stopovers.

Migratory Birds and Biodiversity

Migratory birds are vital ecological players. They pollinate, disperse seeds, and control pests—functions essential for balanced ecosystems. Hummingbirds pollinate tropical plants, thrushes spread seeds, waterfowl transport nutrients between wetlands, and raptors like kestrels help farmers by preying on rodents. The decline of migratory birds can thus ripple through food webs and even affect processes like forest regeneration.

Infographic by Jillian Ditner.

Alarmingly, these birds are in steep decline. North America has lost nearly 3 billion since 1970, with 75% of species now decreasing. These losses signal deeper ecosystem problems and could result in fewer pollinated plants, more pests, and a loss of birdsong. Protecting migratory birds is critical to preserving global biodiversity.

The Role of the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT)

Founded in 1946 by Sir Peter Scott, the UK-based WWT works to conserve wetlands for wildlife and people. It manages nature reserves like Slimbridge and Welney, crucial wintering sites for swans, geese, and ducks. Long-term monitoring guides conservation across entire flyways.

Spoon-billed Sandpiper.

WWT has helped save species like the Spoon-billed Sandpiper through captive breeding and releases. It supports wetland restoration globally, from the Russian Far East to Madagascar and the UK, ensuring migration paths remain viable.

Migratory birds weave together landscapes, seasons, and continents. Their epic journeys depend on a fragile network of habitats—wetlands, coastal margins, urban greenspaces—that are increasingly under pressure. As we've seen, protecting these birds means more than safeguarding a few nature reserves; it requires a global, connected approach to land use, sustainability, and ecological data.

At Gentian, we believe that nature doesn’t stop at city limits or conservation boundaries. Through our Eco-Patterns project, we are developing an AI-powered tool to monitor Open Mosaic Habitats (OMH), with potential applications for vegetated shingle in future. OMH are dynamic, biodiverse systems found in post-industrial and disturbed landscapes, and are classed as high-distinctiveness habitats under the UK Biodiversity Net Gain framework.

“Eco-Patterns represents a significant step forward in ecological monitoring, allowing us to respond to the urgent need for more accurate environmental assessments,”
— Daniel White, CEO of Gentian.

Find out more about the project here: Eco-Patterns Project.

World Migratory Bird Day reminds us that bird conservation is ecosystem conservation. Whether you’re supporting sustainable agriculture, rethinking urban design, or advancing habitat science, every action matters. Protecting these remarkable travellers helps protect the planet we all share.