The first weekend of October each year is World Bird Day, a date promoted by BirdLife International to raise awareness of the status of these species and the need to protect their habitats and to highlight their ecological value.

This year, under the slogan “Conserving birds and their habitats is slowing down climate change“, it is stressed that well-preserved natural spaces act as carbon sinks, regulate temperature and cope with extreme events. Healthy and diverse habitats are more resilient and regenerate better. In addition, according to the latest update of the Red Book of Spain, climate change affects 66% of threatened bird species.

Birds, essential for the balance of ecosystems, are going through a critical moment, and their conservation is more urgent than ever. At the international level, the report The State of the World’s Bird Conservation states that 5,245 (49%) of the 11,000 known bird species have experienced a decline in their population. It also states that one out of every eight species is in danger of extinction.

At the national level, the situation is equally worrying. According to the Red Book of Birds, 25% of Spanish birdlife is threatened, included in categories of extinction risk defined by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). In addition, 56% of the species evaluated have conservation problems. These data reflect the urgent need to take measures to protect species and their habitats in Spain.

Among the main threats facing birds both globally and in our country include the destruction of their habitats, pollution, intensive agriculture and, increasingly, the impact of climate change. These factors not only affect bird populations, but also the stability of ecosystems. Rising temperatures are altering habitats and migratory patterns, drastically reducing the areas where birds can live, feed, and reproduce.

In addition to their ecological value, birds play key roles in regulating ecosystems. Not only do they provide essential ecosystem services, such as seed dispersal, plant pollination, and insect population control, but they also contribute to human well-being. Birdwatching, which is becoming increasingly popular, has been shown to be beneficial for mental health, helping to reduce stress and anxiety, and improving overall well-being.

In this context, the Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO) coordinates several key projects, such as the LIFE Marbled Teal, which aims to reverse the risk of extinction of the marbled teal, one of the seven species declared “in a critical situation” in Spain. This project has achieved important milestones, such as the recovery of more than 140 hectares of wetlands and the signing of 15 stewardship agreements for the protection of their habitat. In addition, the reproduction of the marbled teal (Marmaronetta angustirostris) has reached a record number in the last twenty years with 130 chicks (females sighted accompanied by chicks) and 806 chicks born in 2024.

Likewise, the LIFE INTEMARES project, also coordinated by the Foundation, focuses on improving knowledge about bird species of community interest. Among the achievements, the monitoring of the Balearic shearwater stands out, whose surprising records include a dive of more than 37 meters deep, the highest known record for this species. These advances are crucial for the conservation of seabirds and their natural environment.

On the other hand, the Biodiversity Foundation, through the Pleamar Programme, co-financed by the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF), has contributed to the implementation of different community directives related to the protection and conservation of biodiversity in the European Union (EU). These include the Birds Directive, which aims at the long-term conservation of all European wild bird species.