More than half of Earth’s migratory bird species are declining – here’s how we can still save them

A new global assessment of the world’s migratory species finds reason for alarm, but also hope – and a road map for helping them survive.

By: Peter P. Marra, Georgetown University and Nathan W. Cooper, Smithsonian Institution, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: July 23, 2026

Words: 1,343

Last Updated: 3 weeks, 1 day ago

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By Peter P. Marra, Georgetown University and Nathan W. Cooper, Smithsonian Institution

Every year, billions of migratory birds connect the world’s continents, oceans and ecosystems as they undertake epic journeys between their foraging habitats and their breeding grounds.

A bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) leaves its breeding grasslands of North America for the Pampas of South America. A Newell’s shearwater (Puffinus newelli) spends months soaring across the North Pacific before returning to the Hawaiian Islands to …

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