Each year, millions of birds undertake journey across continents, navigating thousands of kilometer to breed and escape harsh season conditions. Yet, these remarkable travelers increasingly face deadly obstacles along their way. World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) 2025, has passed its first observance that took place on 10 May 2025, while the second observance is scheduled for 11 October 2025.
This year celebration calls for action under the theme “Creating Bird Friendly Cities and Communities” (UNEP, 2025). A reminder that through evidence based-policy, infrastructure, and community involvement is crucial to continue supporting and preserving these majestic creatures.
The importance of birds
In a healthy ecosystem, every species plays vital role. The absence or overpopulation of even one group can disrupt the delicate balance of nature. Among these contributors, birds are especially significant due to the wide range of ecological functions they fulfill.
There are multiple types of bird that fill the niche of nature. Fruit and seed eater birds help regenerate vegetation and maintain plant diversity through their droppings. While birds that eat insects and other small invertebrates maintain a healthy population of insect and pests.
Bigger birds that scavenge like vulture and crows help clean up carcasses and preventing disease and harmful bacteria to its surrounding. These examples shows how important bird is for the environment and also for us that live alongside them.
But what are migratory birds? What makes them so special to the point we make a whole calendar day to celebrate its existence?
According to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, Migratory species” means the entire population or any geographically separate part of the population of any species or lower taxon of wild animals, a significant proportion of whose members cyclically and predictably cross one or more national jurisdictional boundaries
To simplify it, Migratory birds are birds that move regularly between different areas during certain seasons, often across countries.
Despite the incredible distance they have to cover, migratory birds return to the same spots every year. This astonishing behaviour is a result of millions of years of evolution and adaptation. Every year, World Migratory Bird Day remind us about their importance and its beauty of these long-distance travelers, who risk their lives just to survive the seasonal changes.
Indonesia is one of the pit stop used by various migratory bird. According to Burung Indonesia, Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica), Arctic Warbler (Phylloscopus borealis), and Daurian starling (Agropsar sturninus) have been spotted in urban areas and cities.
These birds cross hundreds and even thousands of kilometers to keep living. According to the Barn Swallow Observation Guide published by Wild Bird Society of Japan, Barn swallow that reside in Asia will breed in Russia, China and Japan and they migrate to Southeast Asia like Malaysia, Phillipines, and Indonesia to evade harsh winter.
Urban Threats to Migratory Birds
Urbanization poses significant threats to migratory birds. About 60% of their deaths are linked to urban hazards like reflective glass, artificial lights, and power lines (UNEP, 2025).
A heartbreaking example occurred in 2023 at Chicago’s McCormick Place, where more than 1,000 birds representing more than 30 species died after colliding with the building. The incident was driven by a combination of high-intensity migration, poor visibility, thunderstorm, an urban landscape filled with artificial lighting, and reflective and transparent glass (Farnsworth, Horton, & Marra, 2024).
This aligns with a separate study by Van Doren et al. (2021) emphasize how reflective surface and artificial lights contribute significantly to bird mortality rate each year.
Despite these challenges, cities can serve as refuges. Spottswood et al. (2021) found that urban areas offer shelter from rural predators, provide diverse habitats, and support genetic diversity in some bird populations. However, these benefits are limited without deliberate conservation efforts.
Designing for Coexistence: What Can We Do?
Protecting migratory birds requires a multifaceted approach, integrating policy, infrastructure, and community action.
- Policy and Enforcement - Farnsworth et al (2024) emphasize the importance of laws and enforcement circling preventative measures for birds-building collision. mortality cases of birds during its migration period highlight the importance of laws and enforcement across residential and urban areas to support voluntary action. Such enforcement would send a strong message to buildling operator in bird migration routes across the country. It would make clear that failing to take reasonable precautions could result in legal consequences and significant fines. Reasonable precations include using windows covering to reduce light pollutions and treating glass to make it more visible to birds.
- Urban Green Infrastructure - Urban Green Infrastructure (UGI) must be more widely promoted, implemented, and emphasized, especially in today’s increasingly sustainability-conscious world. Liu et al (2023) states that UGI plays a vital role in providing habitat for birds and is key to supporting and conserving bird diversity. The study that was conducted in Shenzen shows that migratory bird tends to avoid urban environment. As such, the Urban Green Infrastructure development in Shenzen Bay should help lessen the effect of surrounding urban development.
- Citizen Science and Education - Citizen science is another valuable tool in conservation efforts. De Camargo Barbosa et al. (2021) highlight how birdwatchers can assist research by uploading sightings and contributing to bird monitoring databases. While amateur data can sometimes lack accuracy, the study recommends expert-led training to improve data quality and empower community involvement. Awareness campaigns and educational programs also play a key role in building a conservation-minded public.
Migratory birds need our help to survive urban challenges. Protecting migratory bird is not only an issue of wildlife conservation, but also maintaning the balance in ecosystem. As our cities grow and landscape change, we need to ensure that our development does not at the cost of nature.
Advocate for bird-friendly buildings in your city, support local parks, or join a citizen science project like eBird. Through thoughtful urban planning, stronger legislation, and inclusive community engagement, we can build a future where migratory birds are not only surviving, but thriving. The skies belong to all of us, so let us ensure they remain safe for generations to come.
Share this article
Share on facebook
Facebook
Share on twitter
Twitter
Share on linkedin
LinkedIn
Share on whatsapp
Whatsapp
