Conservation
Threats & Challenges
Seabirds are among the most threatened groups of birds. Nearly a third of seabird species are considered globally threatened.
The three biggest threats
- Invasive species: introduced rats, cats and other predators on breeding islands.
- Bycatch: birds caught and drowned on fishing hooks and in nets, estimated in the hundreds of thousands each year.
- Climate change: shifting prey, marine heatwaves and rising seas.
Pollution
Oil spills coat feathers and destroy their waterproofing. Plastics are mistaken for food and fed to chicks. One widely cited study estimated that around nine in ten seabirds have eaten plastic.
Light and disturbance
Young petrels and shearwaters leaving their burrows at night can be drawn to artificial lights and grounded. Human disturbance at colonies can cause adults to leave eggs and chicks exposed.
Disease
Since 2021, highly pathogenic avian influenza has killed large numbers of seabirds, including gannets, skuas and terns, at colonies across several continents.
Get involved
Involved in seabird conservation, or want to be? Share your project or ask how to help.