The Global Flyways film series, launched by BirdLife International and Content with Purpose, showcases the global effort to protect migratory birds. The series brings together scientists, conservationists, communities, organizations, and local voices to reveal the interconnected journeys of migratory birds across the world. Every year, billions of migratory birds cross continents and oceans, connecting countries and ecosystems thousands of miles apart along ancient migratory routes known as flyways.
The 2026 State of the World’s Birds report by BirdLife International reveals that 45 percent of migratory bird species are now in decline, while 200 species – one in nine – are threatened with extinction. Their survival depends on connected habitats, coordinated conservation, and people working together throughout entire flyways. The Global Flyways series makes these interconnected journeys visible, bringing together stories spanning conservation, science, technology, communities, and industry.
Filmed across 19 countries and five continents, the digital series follows stories that span four global flyways, from scientists tracking migration and communities restoring wetlands, to Indigenous knowledge, bird-friendly infrastructure, and international conservation partnerships. With 68 films and video assets, Global Flyways brings global conservation to life – creating a global picture rarely seen in one place, with individual stories of migration forming part of a much larger story about a connected planet.
The series also shows the many forms conservation can take, including restoring mangroves in Mozambique, protecting cranes in Tanzania, managing salt marshes in Spain, supporting bird-friendly coffee in Peru, designing safer infrastructure, planning renewable energy responsibly, tracking migration through new technology, and building international networks that protect the places birds need most. At its heart, Global Flyways is a story about connection, reminding us that nature is shared and that protecting migration means protecting whole systems of life.
The Chief Executive Officer of BirdLife International, Martin Harper, said that for two years, their camera crews followed the birds through 19 countries, and at every stop, they found people working tirelessly to save migratory birds. “From today, anyone can watch. Together, we can inspire a global movement to safeguard these natural super-highways – for birds, for people and for the planet – and save the wonder of migration,” he said.
The Global Flyways series was previewed during BirdLife International’s Global Partnership Meeting and Global Flyways Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, bringing together conservation leaders and BirdLife Partners from around the world. BirdLife International and Content with Purpose are inviting birdwatchers, conservationists, educators, researchers, policymakers, journalists, and anyone curious about the natural world to explore the films, share their stories, and discover how the places and people along the world’s flyways are connected.
Max Smith, Founder and Managing Director of Content With Purpose, pointed out that across the world, people are doing extraordinary work to protect migratory birds and the landscapes and habitats they depend on. “Global Flyways brings those efforts together, showing what conservation looks like in practice and what can be achieved when communities, scientists, organisations, and decision-makers work towards a shared goal,” he said.
Key points
- The Global Flyways film series showcases global efforts to protect migratory birds and their habitats.
- The series features stories from 19 countries and five continents, highlighting various conservation efforts.
- The series aims to inspire a global movement to safeguard natural super-highways for birds, people, and the planet.
