Millions of migratory birds face crisis as south asia’s wetlands disappear

Each winter, millions of birds embark on epic journeys spanning thousands of kilometers from the frozen landscapes of Siberia and Central Asia to the warmer regions of South Asia. These remarkable migrations follow two major routes: the Central Asian Flyway (CAF) and the East Asian-Australasian Flyway (EAAF). However, this ancient natural phenomenon now faces an unprecedented threat as the critical stopover habitats these birds depend on are rapidly vanishing.

A comprehensive assessment by researchers across Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, India, the Maldives, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka reveals alarming habitat loss throughout the region. Wetlands, riverine forests, and coastal mangroves—the essential pit stops where birds rest and refuel during their marathon flights—are being destroyed by agricultural expansion, rapid urbanization, unplanned fishing, and pollution. These activities are systematically degrading the wetlands, mudflats, and river systems that serve as lifelines for migratory species.

The impact is particularly severe because most migratory waterbirds, including ducks, geese, and shorebirds, don’t primarily eat fish as many assume. Instead, they rely heavily on shallow wetlands and mudflats where they feed on aquatic vegetation, seeds, and invertebrates. “When waterbodies are drained, polluted or heavily altered, it destroys the habitats and food resources these birds depend on during their non-breeding season,” explains Bangladeshi ornithologist Sayam U. Chowdhury from Cambridge University’s Conservation Research Institute.

Bangladesh alone, positioned at the crossroads of both major flyways, provides habitat for approximately 310 migratory bird species, making the preservation of these ecosystems crucial for global avian biodiversity.