Shooting, trapping, poisoning.
Millions of migratory birds are slaughtered illegally as they make nature’s most incredible journey. Follow these magnificent birds on their epic flight for survival.
BirdLife International has exposed the illegal mass slaughter of migratory birds across the Mediterranean, Northern Europe and the Caucasus. Every year, an average of 25 000 000 birds are unlawfully shot, trapped or poisoned, from the smallest songbirds to the most powerful birds of prey. Endangered species, already hit hard by habitat loss and climate change, are being pushed closer to extinction – and all in open defiance of the law.
We are following the spectacular migratory journeys of these birds and exposing the different dangers they face at some of the worst illegal killing blackspots along the African-Eurasian flyway.
Birds know no borders; migration routes cross countries and even continents. BirdLife International is the largest nature conservation partnership in the world. Together with our national partners, we’re working to protect migratory birds at a flyway scale – but we need your help.
With your support, we can combat human threats to migratory birds at their wintering, breeding and stopover grounds and take targeted conservation action to end illegal killing at some of the worst blackspots along the African-Eurasian flyway.
June 12, 2026
Migratory birds are one of our greatest shared natural treasures, connecting wetlands, coastlines, forests, and communities across our flyways. But many of these species are now in decline. Using scientific modelling, coordinated flyway management, and the legal tools already available under EU law, European countries have a real opportunity to halt the declines and help vulnerable bird populations recover.
April 22, 2026
As the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS COP15) took place last month in Campo Grande, Brazil, the conservation community […]
April 10, 2026
12 Cinereous Vultures poisoned in Dadia, Greece
April 10, 2026A shocking wildlife crime has taken place in Greece, where our Partner Hellenic Ornithological Society (HOS) reports that 12 Cinereous Vultures were poisoned in Dadia National […]
March 12, 2026
This article was originally published on the website of BirdLife Cyprus here. Cover picture by Guy Shorrock. BirdLife Cyprus’ newly released autumn 2025 trapping report estimates […]
