MIGRATION: A FLIGHT FOR SURVIVAL
WHITE STORK
PAGE 20
Mist-nets and glued
branches claim storks,
quails, blackcaps and more
Photo BirdLife Europe &
Central Asia
rom the smallest songbirds
to the most powerful birds
of prey, migration is always a
flight for survival. Each spring,
millions of migratory birds brave
rough storms, fierce predators and possible
starvation as they fly thousands of kilometres
to reach the best sites to breed and raise their
young. In autumn, they do it all again to reach
their southern wintering grounds. It is nature’s
most incredible journey. But there are other
dangers along the flyways – and humans are
responsible.
BirdLife has exposed the staggering scale of
illegal bird killing that occurs in the modern
age [see page 12]. Now, together with our
national Partners, we are working to put an
end to the killing – by raising critical funds
and much-needed international awareness to
tackle this tragically overlooked problem.
And it really is overlooked, or at least
severely underestimated. Even in countries
where illegal killing is rife, many citizens still
think of it as a small-scale yearly tradition
carried out by a few hobbyists in rural areas.
And it probably once was – but modern
technology and instant communication have
turned it into a large-scale, unsustainable
decimation. From “hunting tourism” to
organised trapping to fuel a trade in illegal
cuisine, the unlawful killing of birds is now
helping to drive some species to extinction.
Birds know no borders; migration routes
cross countries and even continents. This
global problem demands a global solution.
That is why we are working with our national
Partners to protect migratory birds on
F
APR-JUN 2019 • BIRDLIFE
every step of their journey. Together, we
are providing safe havens at their wintering,
breeding and stopover grounds, and taking
targeted action to end illegal killing at critical
locations in Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Croatia,
Bulgaria, Hungary, Lebanon and Egypt. It’s an
enormous challenge, especially since illegal
bird killing is often heavily-ingrained culturally.
From their local experience, our Partners
know that it’s not just about enforcing laws:
it’s also about changing minds.
And what better way to inspire a love and
respect for birds than to tell the stories of
the migratory birds themselves. This spring,
our ‘Flight for Survival’ campaign follows the
journeys of seven species (the “Magnificent
Seven”) as they voyage from Africa to
Europe: the White Stork, Egyptian Vulture,
Eurasian Blackcap, Common Quail, Eastern
Imperial Eagle, European Honey-buzzard and
European Turtle-dove.
Many birds were chosen because of their
iconic and beloved status within the countries
they migrate through. Some, like the White
Stork and Egyptian Vulture, feature heavily
in mythology and folklore. Others, like the
European Honey-buzzard, have fascinating
and unique behaviours. These are birds of all
types, habits, shapes and sizes, with one thing
in common: their magnificent journeys. To
know their stories is to care.
You can help our Partners to carry out
their essential work at some of the world’s
most dangerous sites for birds. Visit www.
flightforsurvival.org and spread the word
by following and sharing #FlightForSurvival
stories on Facebook and Instagram.
EGYPTIAN
VULTURE
PAGE 22
EURASIAN
BLACKCAP
PAGE 24
COMMON
QUAIL
PAGE 26
EASTERN
IMPERIAL EAGLE
PAGE 28
EUROPEAN
HONEY-BUZZARD
PAGE 30
EUROPEAN
TURTLE-DOVE
PAGE 32
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