A new study warned that about 91 percent of migratory bird species are in danger due the damaging effects of habitat loss.
According to the researchers, even if just one these habitats along the birds' migration route gets destroyed, it could threaten their survival, Reuters has learned.
For the study, the researchers observed around 1,450 migratory birds and the routes they usually take as they travel to other parts of the world. Based on their data, these birds pass through 450,000 national parks and reserves.
Like stop-over points, birds use these areas to rest and feed. Sometimes, these are also used for breeding.
However, the researchers discovered that over 90 percent, or around 1,324 bird species, pass through unprotected regions. Many of these areas are open to man-made destruction such as land development.
If any of these regions gets completely altered or destroyed, it could significantly affect the migratory behavior of birds. Without a suitable location to recuperate, many of these birds may not be able to survive the next leg of their journey.
According to their findings, many of these affected areas are in East and Central Asia and North Africa. In most cases, urban developments, agricultural expansions and industrial operations are the main factors behind habitat loss.
"This is important because migratory species cover vast distances and rely on an intact series if habitats in which they can rest and feed on their long journeys," Richard Fuller, a conservation scientists at the Australian Research Council's Center of Excellence for Environmental Decisions and one of the authors of the study said according to Reuters.
"If even a single link in this chain of sites is lost for a species, it could lead to major declines or even its extinction," he added.
Although the obvious answer to this issue would probably be finding a new habitat or stop-over point, researchers believe it will not be that easy. Since some birds only prefer to eat specific types of food, they may not be able to feed properly if they are forced to take on a different route.
According to the researchers, it would take a global effort to address this issue and prevent the potential extinction of over 1,300 migratory bird species. Governments of various countries should implement new guidelines regarding the protection of the animals' migration paths and new national parks and reserves should also be established, ABC.net reported.
The study carried out by the scientists was published on December 4 in the journal Science.
