[Objectives] Approximately 10 billion birds of 1 800 species migrate globally. From 1970 to 2020, ecological conservation efforts in North America and Europe have resulted in a significant increase in the population of large migratory waterbirds and raptors, gradually becoming the primary cause of bird strike accidents and symptoms. Data from the US civil aviation sector indicate a significant correlation between the average weight of birds and the frequency of accidents, with bird weight serving as a predictive indicator of bird strike risk. [Methods] We conducted a comparative analysis of large waterbird population estimates across China and East Asia from 2008 to 2020, and examined the population trends in China and the underlying drivers of these ecological changes. Moreover, we compared the number and characteristics of birdstrike accidents in civil aviation between China and the United States, using one-way ANOVA. [Results] From 2008 to 2020, the number of large overwintering waterfowls in six groups in East Asia increased from 650 000 to 1130 000, of which China experiencing an increase from 420 000 to 530 000 (Appendix 1). The factors contributing to this increase include increased utilization of farmland by birds, strengthened bird conservation efforts and the expansion of protected areas, as well as the prohibition of certain chemical substances and the expansion of aquaculture. Over the past 30 years, the number of civil aviation takeoffs and landings in the United States has increased by 1.1 times, leading to a 7.3-fold increase in bird strike incidents. In China, there has been a 4.6-fold increase in civil aviation takeoffs and landings over the past 20 years, resulting in a 14.3-fold increase in bird strike incidents and a 9.3-fold increase in accidents and incidents (Figs. 1, 2). Although the rate of bird strike incidents per ten thousand flights in China is lower than that in the United States, the number of accidents and incidents is higher, attributed to measures such as bird strike warnings and airport habitat management adopted in the United States (Figs. 1, 2, Table 1). [Conclusion] China serves as crucial stopover and wintering grounds for large wintering waterbirds, with millions of migratory birds pass through Chinese airspace annually. International trend analysis suggests that large birds, such as waterbirds, may pose significant flight safety hazards during their migration and breeding seasons. Therefore, China needs to conduct long-term bird monitoring, identify hotspots of bird activity and their spatiotemporal variations, and continuously strengthen proactive prevention efforts. This will help to reduce the reliance on traditional passive interventions, and minimizing the risk of bird strikes on aircraft.