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Flyways

Flyways are avian “super-highways” where migrating birds can rest and refuel

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Conservation Action Fund

Your gift will allow us to take swift conservation action when and where it is needed most.

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The stakes are higher every year for migratory birds

Along their flights over continents and oceans, migratory birds need stopover sites that provide food and shelter. Otherwise, they would not have the stamina to endure the journey between breeding grounds and wintering habitat. Several threats place intense pressure on flyways:

  • Development
  • Habitat loss and degradation
  • Pollution
  • Wildfires
  • Climate change
  • Overfishing
Did you know?

Each year, 1,800 bird species fly great distances, between summer breeding grounds and wintering grounds, and stop several times along the way. Every location on their journey must be protected so they can survive.

Explore Flyways

Endangered migratory birds

Spoon-billed Sandpiper, courtesy of Bird Conservation Society of Thailand
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Spoon-billed Sandpiper, courtesy of Bird Conservation Society of Thailand

Blue Crane, by Michael Potter
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Blue Crane, by Michael Potter

Female Bengal Florican, courtesy WCS
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Female Bengal Florican, courtesy WCS

The Bengal Florican, by Nejib Ahmed
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Bengal Florican, by Nejib Ahmed

Bengal Florican, by surajeet96
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Bengal Florican, by surajeet96

Galapagos Petrel, by Agami Photo Agency
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Galapagos Petrel, by Agami Photo Agency

Working with local partners

Rainforest Trust works with local partners to protect migratory flyways for globally threatened species. For instance, in Thailand and Myanmar, we helped safeguard critical habitat along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway—the most threatened flight path for migratory birds on Earth—to benefit the Critically Endangered Spoon-billed Sandpiper and the Endangered Great Knot.

Our Work to Protect Flyways

Conservation Hotspots

We identify key biodiversity hotspots across the globe that need protection. By focusing our efforts on these critical sites, we can most effectively contribute to helping save the world’s biodiversity.