Human pressure and climate change are harming nature and ecosystems, with birds among the most affected groups. Around half of all bird species are declining, and in about 13% the decline is severe enough to threaten their survival, while only about 6% show population growth.
The warning came from BirdLife International through the State of the World’s Birds 2022, a four-year synthesis of global avifauna produced with contributions from SEO/BirdLife in Spain.
Among roughly 11,000 world bird species, 5,245 species, or 49%, are experiencing population declines. Of these, 1,409 species are considered endangered, placing one in eight under threat of extinction.
The study notes a widespread deterioration in bird conservation that affected populations across nearly every region, with notable declines in temperate zones of the planet, including common species such as sparrows and swallows.
The research identifies key drivers behind the global decline in birds:
– Expansion and intensification of agriculture, impacting 73% of threatened species.
– Deforestation affecting about half of endangered birds.
– Invasive species and other problems harming around 40% of affected populations.
– Illegal or unregulated hunting, influencing about 38% of endangered birds.
– Climate change already affecting roughly 34% of species.
– Urban development negatively impacting around 27% of endangered birds.
planetary challenge
Overall, about 33% of biodiversity impacts in South America and 26% in Africa are linked to consumption elsewhere. Since 1502, the Atlantic Ocean alone has witnessed the disappearance of 187 bird species.
Every region and country hosts at least one endangered bird. Brazil and Indonesia hold the highest counts of threatened species, with 175 and 171 respectively, and 1,409 species are listed as threatened, including 231 considered critically endangered.
The authors also warn of a broad, hitherto unseen decline in bird populations once deemed common.
Within the European Union, about 620 million birds have disappeared since 1980. In North America, losses over the last five decades reach roughly 3,000 million. The contraction of bird populations is a global phenomenon.
In Japan, for example, 94% of forest-dwelling birds disappeared between 1805 and 2016, while populations of wetland birds declined by 88% over the same period. In Kenya, raptors declined by about 70% from 1970 to 2020, India saw a 62% drop in forest-associated birds between 2000 and 2018, with 59% less loss in grassland and shrubland birds and 47% less in wetlands. In Costa Rica, tropical farmland birds declined from 1999 to 2010, and in Australia seabirds lost 43% of their numbers between 2000 and 2016.
The projections are stark: by 2100, up to 97% of North American birds could be affected by global warming, with Europe showing similar trends, according to Asunción Ruiz, executive director of SEO/BirdLife.
Spain: 18 species in critical condition
SEO/BirdLife has updated the national status of birds, confirming 462 species present in Spain, with about 63% breeding locally. Of these, 359 are part of the Birds of Spain Red List, indicating concern about conservation status. Ninety species are listed as threatened, with 18 in critical condition.
Four species are described as at extreme risk: Cantabrian capercaillie, marble teal, shrike, and Balearic shearwater.
Across Spain, as in much of Europe, most threatened birds favor agricultural and other semi-natural habitats (34%), followed by wetlands (approximately 24.7%). About 18% of threatened birds are marine or coastal, 12% live in mountains, and only 10% inhabit forest environments.
SEO/BirdLife highlights that this distribution mirrors the habitats most at risk in Spain, underscoring the vulnerability of agricultural steppes and wetlands.
Total, the report identifies 12 major threat groups, with climate change listed among them. Pollution remains the most common threat (about 76% of cases), followed by ecosystem changes, intensive farming, and climate-related impacts.
BirdLife International’s report is referenced in a cited study, with attribution to BirdLife International and SEO/BirdLife. The document emphasizes ongoing global loss and the need for swift conservation actions.
End note: the environmental department continues to monitor and report on avian conservation status, urging ongoing attention to habitat protection, sustainable farming, and climate resilience.