GLOBALLY, 49 percent of all bird species are in decline and about 1 in 8 species is threatened with extinction. Migratory bird populations continue to decrease.
Meanwhile, the majority of the world’s bird species are unable to fully thrive in human-dominated environments, according to a 2024 study published in Global Ecology and Biogeography. Compounding this problem are urban expansion and its rapid reduction of natural habitats, leaving migratory birds with fewer places to rest, feed and breed. According to the United Nations, the 55 percent of the global human population that resides in urban areas is projected to rise to 68 percent by 2050.
The Bee-eater. PHOTOS FROM WMBD 2025
Amid alarming bird population declines, the World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD), a global campaign organized by the UN and international partners, made designing and managing urban environments that support both birds and people its main message this year. It kicks off with this year’s first peak day on May 10 with the theme “Shared Spaces: Creating Bird-Friendly Cities and Communities.” It urges collective efforts to secure the future of migratory birds in and around urban environments, and encourages decision-makers, residents and communities to address challenges and get involved in bird conservation efforts.
WMBD 2025 lists window collisions, light pollution, habitat loss and fragmentation, household pesticides, invasive species and outdoor cats as the major threats for birds in urban and semi-urban settings.
The Amur falcon.
Collisions with glass in urban areas account for an estimated 100 million bird deaths per year in Germany, while building collisions kill over 1 billion birds annually in the United States. In the Republic of Korea, approximately 186,000 birds die annually from collisions with transparent noise barriers along roads; those in flight are vulnerable to colliding with transparent or reflective structures.
Night-migrating birds face heightened collision risks because of artificial light that disorients them. Studies show that migratory birds may be subject to the effects of light pollution particularly during migration, the most critical stage of their annual cycle.
Urban planning
Noise pollution can mask or interfere with bird songs, which are crucial for attracting mates, establishing territories and warning others of danger. It can also affect the birds’ breeding schedules and success rates. In Munich, Germany, scientists found zebra finch chicks born in places with constant traffic noise were smaller than those from parents who bred and built nests in quieter locations.
Free-roaming cats pose a serious threat to bird species. They are estimated to kill between 100 and 350 million birds per year in Canada, while causing more than a million daily bird deaths nationwide in Australia.
The ‘Shared Spaces’ campaign poster.
Urban planning that minimizes the destruction of important habitats and adverse impacts on the feathered creatures improves human well-being, including mental health. It invests in clean air, water and green spaces. Cities with bird-friendly streetscapes, parks and green roofs create more livable, beautiful environments. Thriving birds often signal healthy ecosystems and help people feel connected to nature and their neighborhoods.
The WMBD 2025 campaign proposes practical ways to create these communities.
Planting native plants provides food and shelter for birds and supports pollinators like bees, butterflies and some bird species. Using window films or patterned glass reduces bird-window collisions.
Other ways to protect birds include leashing or keeping cats inside houses; reducing artificial light at night; and decreasing the plastic waste they often ingest or get tangled in. Avoiding pesticides and instead using organic methods to control pests safeguard the insects and clean water that birds rely on.
“Millions of migratory birds all around the world spend a key part of their life-cycles within cities and other built communities whether for breeding, feeding or as a stop along their migratory pathways,” says Amy Fraenkel, executive secretary of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals. “Ensuring that our cities and communities are developed and maintained in a manner that supports migratory birds is not only vital for their survival but also benefits people in countless ways.”