A recent report from the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has revealed a worrying downward trend in global populations of migratory shorebirds. This report has reclassified the population of 16 shorebird species to higher threat categories on the IUCN Red List of species.
Birds tend to be well-studied, widespread and responsive to changes in habitats and the environment. They are an important indicator of the health of the ecosystems they are found. One in eight bird species is currently threatened with extinction and 60% of bird species globally are in decline. The decline of these species, which include several species that spend the winter months foraging on Irish shores, threatens to disrupt ecosystems across the planet.
The Grey Plover is a winter visitor to Ireland from Siberia. Its population has declined by at least 30% in the past three generations (23 years) causing its threat status to be changed from Least Concern to Vulnerable.
The Dunlin migrates to our coasts from Scandinavia and Siberia. Its population is estimated to have declined by between 20% and 29% over the past three generations and it has now been reclassified from Least Concern to Near Threatened.
The Ruddy Turnstone arrives in Ireland from northeastern Canada and northern Greenland and has also seen its threat level upgraded from Least Concern to Near Threatened. Though still a widespread species it has experienced a population decline of between 20% and 29% over the past three generations (18 years).
The Curlew Sandpiper is a passage migrant stopping off on Irish coastlines during its migration in autumn and spring. This scarce bird on Irish shores has experienced a population decline of between 30% and 49% over the past three generations (15 years).
These birds travel to Irish beaches along migration routes called flyways, particularly the east Atlantic flyway, a major migration route for waterbirds in the northern hemisphere. Their dependence on places to rest and feed along these flyways makes them highly vulnerable to habitat loss or degradation and climate change. Hunting and disturbance have also been listed as possible causes for the declines seen in these species.
As a key indicator species for the health of coastal ecosystems, protecting these species also protects the communities of people who rely on those coasts for food, industry and storm protection. The need for intergovernmental action on the topic was highlighted by the CEO of Birdlife International, Martin Harper, who stated that:
“COP16 must be the catalyst for governments to back up commitments made two years ago with meaningful action to reverse the catastrophic declines in species populations. This means more action to bolster efforts to recover threatened species, more action to protect and restore more land, freshwater and sea, and more action to transform our food, energy and industrial systems – backed up by the necessary funding. The decline of migratory birds, which connect people across countries and continents, is a powerful symbol of how we are currently failing.“
At MKO we work closely with the renewable energy sector in several coastal communities. Through monitoring the distribution and abundance of vulnerable bird species in these areas we strive to ensure that the transition to more renewable energy production is completed in a way that bears no ill effects for our most threatened species.
References:
Press release: New report reveals plummeting Migratory Shorebird populations globally (2024) BirdLife International. Available here. (Accessed: 08 November 2024).
Lewis, A. (2024) New IUCN report reveals plummeting Migratory Shorebird populations globally, BirdWatch Ireland. Available here. (Accessed: 08 November 2024).
Wintering waterbirds (no date) Wintering Waterbirds | National Parks & Wildlife Service. Available here. (Accessed: 08 November 2024).