The ecosystems on Earth that are disappearing the fastest are wetlands. Because of the tremendous urbanisation that is occurring in developing economies, these destructions are happening much more frequently. Over a fifteen-year period, a study was carried out in three significant wetlands close to Kolkata Metropolis in south West Bengal, India, to estimate the changes in waterbird abundance, both as long-distance and residential/local migrants. During this survey, 51 different species of waterbirds were identified. Of these, twenty-two residential/local migrants showed a notable drop in abundance during the time, whereas all nineteen species of winter migrants had dramatic declining trends. The conversion of wetlands for commercial fishing, the disposal of wetlands for various development projects, the careless removal of aquatic vegetation, contamination from sewage inflow, etc. are some of the main causes. Wetlands are important for hydrological and biogeochemical cycles and offer a variety of ecosystem services, such as reducing the negative effects of climate change and supplying food and other necessities for humankind. Therefore, it is imperative that NGOs and government agencies step in right once to establish a framework for socio-ecological conservation that includes all relevant parties in order to preserve these wetlands for sustainable use and to ensure that threatened species are protected within and around them.