This beautiful bird has found its way onto the critically endangered list, the IUCN Red List, of bird species and it is estimated that there are fewer than 250 birds remaining in the world. Recent studies have revealed that there could be ways to save this wonderful bird, as they began to investigate the reasons behind the speedy decline in the species. The University of East Anglia has recently published their results.

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds funded the project and studies were concentrated in Cambodia, as the biggest collection of the white-shouldered Ibis is found here. Watching and studying the approximately 160 to 200 birds, has revealed that they prefer open areas, with open sand areas and ground level vegetation, as it makes access to prey easier, makes it easier for the birds to see oncoming danger and assists them in landing and take off as there are less obstacles. What has made the study even more fascinating is the fact that human interaction almost always plays a negative role in the survival of animal and bird species, but in the case of the white-shouldered Ibis, human activity is playing a vital role in the protection of the remaining birds. Open fields where livestock graze and areas that are burnt down by farmers to create more open fields, in turn accommodate these birds and opens more habitats to them. As the white-shouldered Ibis seems to be dependant on the farmers for their existence, it is hoped that this relationship between farmer and Ibis can assist in the survival of the species and hopefully increase white-shouldered Ibis numbers.

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Most people may not know much about the red cockaded woodpecker. Even if they have been fortunate enough to see one, they probably won’t know that these special little birds are a federally endangered species. In fact, the bird was declared endangered in 1970 and currently has the same endangered status as the much better known bald eagle and whooping crane.

Recent management efforts in the Southeast and in Jones County have resulted in significant increases in the population of these endangered birds in recent years. According to Jason Noldem, a District Wildlife Biologist acting with the Chickasawhay Ranger District of the U.S. Forest Service as well as a number of other volunteers and staff members, a program specifically targeted at increasing the numbers of these birds in the area is having considerable success. The Chickasawhay Wildlife Management Area sees the protection of 150 000 acres in which the bird population has risen from 35 birds in 2003 to 103 earlier this year.

According to Nolde, in the 11-state population area there are approximately 6000 birds – just a fraction of what the bird population used to be. The population in the Chickasawhay Wildlife Management Area consists of just 42 active groups. These groups may consist of a simple mating pair (just a male and female) or it may be a pair with up to four helper birds. The helper birds assist in feeding, foraging, incubation and territory defence. Nolde said that the birds currently defend a territory of about 100-500 acres in size, but indicated that if the quality of the habitat improved, these territories would likely become smaller.

The red cockaded woodpecker was once a very common bird that was widespread in the pine forests of the Southeast. It seems that habitat destruction is the main cause of the bird’s decline, since they live in the cavities of mature pine trees that have been cut down and ravaged over the years. Part of efforts to boost their numbers has focused mainly on helping the birds defend their nests from predators or competitors such as squirrels and bluebirds. 300 artificial nesting boxes have also been inserted into cavities to create more habitable spaces for nesting. Clearly the efforts over the course of the past few years are paying off and if the trend continues, this precious bird species may well be saved from extinction.

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The Florida Everglades offer a variety of habitats that are home to an amazing array of birds and wildlife. But, as is increasingly the case all over the world, man is encroaching on the delicate balance of these tropical wetlands with disastrous results. The latest casualty in the Florida Everglades is the Snail Kite which, according to the most recent count, is now considered to be critically endangered in this region.

A number of possible reasons has been cited for this dire situation, but the main factors appear to be extended periods of drought, together with an Everglades water management scheme that has been a subject of controversy for some time now. This has resulted in a loss of suitable breeding sites due to the dwindling of suitable food sources for these regal birds. The Snail Kite’s diet consists mainly of aquatic snails from the family Ampullariidae – commonly known as apple snails – which are deftly extracted from their hard, golf-ball sized shells by means of the bird’s specially adapted beak.

A small number of adult Snail Kites have been spotted in their historic nesting grounds of the Everglades and Lake Okeechobee. However, the majority of the surviving birds have relocated to a chain of Central Florida lakes about 100 miles north, where they have been seen nesting at Lake Tohopekaliga in Florida’s Osceola County. The decline in the Snail Kite’s numbers is seen by many as a reflection of the ineffectiveness of federal wildlife protection and conservation measures in the Everglades.

The Miccosukee tribe has long argued against the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s implementation of a plan to protect the endangered Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow which is restricted to the Everglades. The plan, which involves closing floodgates along the Tamiami Trail in an effort to prevent flooding of the sparrows’ nesting area, causes water to back up and flood tree islands in tribal lands north of the trail, killing off the tiny eggs laid by apple snails on the stems of marsh plants, thereby breaking a link in the vital food chain of the Everglades which Snail Kites rely on. Joette Lorion, spokesperson for the Miccosukee tribe, draws attention to the fact that they Sable Seaside Sparrow is being saved at the expense of the Snail Kite.

Field supervisor at the Wildlife Service’s Vero Beach office, Paul Souza, acknowledges that the current situation is not ideal, but is confident that upcoming plans to improve water flow through Tamiami Trail in an Everglades restoration project will improve conditions for both the Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow and the Snail Kite.

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According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), one in eight bird species is currently facing extinction. The most recent update of the Red List of threatened bird species listed 190 bird species as ‘critically endangered’. Eight of the birds on this list were added this year and a further sixteen species have been given a higher threat status. In sharp contrast, only two species were found to have improved prospects of survival. Clearly things are spiraling out of control.

Stuart Butchart of BirdLife International, an organization which helped IUCN compile the list, sighted the destruction of natural habitats and climate changes brought about by global warming as the biggest factors in this unfortunate trend. Sadly things seem unlikely to change anytime soon. Burchart noted that the resulting fragmented populations become even more susceptible to climate changes and this, in turn, can bring about a higher level of localized extinctions. He further added that to ultimately turn things around, we would have to see “broad-scale climate-change mitigation measures” as well as a change in “society’s values and lifestyles.” However, while there has been an ever-increasing trend amongst first world countries to go ‘green’, it is unlikely that we will see these changes implemented on a large-enough scale to prevent this wave of destruction.

There are approximately 10 000 known bird species. Of these over 1200 are now considered to be ‘threatened’. At least eight species have been bumped up the list to the status ‘critically endangered’. The statistics include the Floreana mocking bird, which is limited to a tiny population of only 60 animals, and the Mallee emuwren – of which there are only about 100 individuals still left in the wild. These are two of the most endangered species on the list, but more familiar bird species also merit attention. The sandpiper and albatross are also listed as endangered, and the spotted kiwi in New Zealand has had its status marked up from near threatened to vulnerable.

One of the birds marked down was the Marquesan imperial pigeon. The change from ‘critically endangered’ to ‘endangered’ comes as the result of determined conservation efforts. This shows that conservation can be effective, but it has to be implemented for all these endangered species if we are going to see any major changes. While activities, such as the clearing of forests to make way for palm-oil plantations, continue to destroy vital bird habitats, BirdLife has set a program in motion to try and stop this ongoing trend in its tracks. Called the “Preventing Extinctions” program, the aim is to find groups who will be willing to protect each of the 190 birds that are listed as critically endangered. Bird lovers can only hope that the new program will prove to be a success.

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The striking northern bald ibis (Geronticus eremite), with is long red bill and oblong-shaped black body, is not a bird that would usually attract too much attention because many people would not think of it as the most attractive bird. However, it is currently very much under the spotlight as it is a critically endangered bird that may be facing extinction if more effort is not put into preserving this species.

The IUCN Red List has labeled the northern bald ibis a critically endangered species because it has long been suffering a steady decline in population. The bird is now limited to an extremely small range and is very low in numbers. While management actions have lead to some success in increasing numbers in places such as Morocco, northern bald ibis numbers continue to drop overall. This means that the bird species still faces the possibility of extinction in the very near future.

The northern bald ibis is between 70 and 80 centimeters in size. Its body is mainly black with iridescent tinges of green, blue and copper. The face is naked with a crown and both are red in color. The nuchal area has a ruff of feathers and the bird usually makes very little noise – apart from a few grunts that might be uttered from its nest or while doing a courtship display. It is currently estimated that there are only about 227 of these birds in the world and these are limited to a 680 square kilometer area.

It was previously believed that this bird was only found at the Souss-Massa National Park in Morocco and at Tamri. However non-breeding birds have been found in Mauritiana and further breeding pairs or adults have been seen in Talila, Syria and Turkey. It was estimated that there were only 300 individuals in 1994 and, despite certain isolated increases, this number has been steadily dropping. While the population of the bird decreased dramatically in the past mainly due to unidentified natural causes, more recent declines are caused by human persecution, loss of suitable habitats, pesticide poisoning, dam construction and human disturbance. Loss of eggs to predators and poor chick survival are also notable factors in the species’ decline.

Fortunately efforts are constantly underway to try and prevent the extinction of this unusual bird. Many of the birds are nesting in national parks and other protected areas, and research, protection programs and collaboration with local communities will likely go a long way to helping. Hopefully more research into the feeding and breeding habits of the bird, as well as the habitat requirements of this unusual creature, will be done in the future to enable conservationists to better ensure the future survival of the northern bald ibis.

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Found in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Torres Strait Island and eastern Australia, Birds of Paradise are members of the family Paradisaeidae, of the order Passeriformes. Birds of Paradise are possibly best known for the males of most species, which boast flamboyant plumage, with elongated and elaborate feathers extending from the wings, the beak or the head. Their magnificent plumage along with their intricate mating displays, have made Birds of Paradise a popular subject for nature and wildlife programs.

The name “Birds of Paradise” originates from specimens of the Greater Bird of Paradise (Paradiseaea apoda) that were brought back to Europe by explorers who had been on trading missions. Unbeknown to the explorers, the wings and feet of these specimens had been removed by native traders, apparently for decorative purposes. This led to the belief that the birds used their plumes to remain permanently in the air, giving rise to the name “Birds of Paradise”, as well as “apoda” meaning “without feet”.

The forty-seven species of Birds of Paradise range in size from the 50gram King Bird of Paradise to the 430 gram Curl-crested Manucode, with most species having complex mating rituals, including lek-type mating. A gathering of males for the purpose of competitive mating displays is known as a lek, taken from the Swedish word meaning “to play”. Before and during the breeding season, leks gather on a daily basis. Generally the same group of males meets at the same venue, with each taking up the same individual positions in order to occupy and defend their small territory. Each male will put on an impressive performance, which may include intricate dances, plumage displays, vocal challenges and occasionally sparring with a neighbor. These displays attract a number of females, which gather around watching intently before choosing a mate.

The hunting of Birds of Paradise has been going on since the beginning of human settlement. The beautiful plumes of many Birds of Paradise have been used in rituals and dress for centuries in places such as Papua New Guinea. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the indiscriminate killing of Birds of Paradise for their plumes for use in the millinery trade in European countries was common. Hunting and habitat destruction, mainly due to deforestation, has resulted in some species being reduced to endangered status.

Today these magnificent birds enjoy legal protection, which is good news for bird watchers who would like to see this fascinating bird family preserved for future generations of birding enthusiasts to enjoy.

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The Black Grouse appears on the IUCN Red List of endangered species and was considered to be one of the bird species most likely to become extinct. However, through the dedicated efforts of conservation groups over the past two decades, the dramatic decline of this rare bird has not only been halted, but turned around, and Black Grouse numbers in the northern Pennines are slowly rising.

The Black Grouse was once plentiful in all the counties of England, but by 1910 it had disappeared from all the southern counties. The Black Grouse can still be seen in most of Scotland and in the upland areas of Wales, but the population in England is restricted to Northumberland, North Yorkshire, County Durham and Cumbria. As a signature species of upland moorland, as well as being a key indicator species, the Black Grouse is considered to be an important bird in the environment. It is also one of the relatively few bird species which has a lek – gathering of male birds in a competitive mating display – at breeding season.

Under the direction of Dr. David Baines and Dr. Phil Warren, the North Pennines Black Grouse Recovery Project is a joint conservation project by the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust, RSPB, Natural England, Ministry of Defense, Northumbrian Water and North Pennines AONB Partnership. The reasons behind the decline of Black Grouse numbers was a key aspect of the study. It was established that overgrazing by sheep has resulted in a significant loss of suitable habitats for the Black Grouse. Another factor affecting the Black Grouse population is the increase in the number of predators, including Carrion Crows and Red Foxes. Additionally there has been a reduction in the number of insects, which are essential in the diet of young Black Grouse chicks.

Using this information, conservationists were able to formulate a recovery program which, with the co-operation of landowners and gamekeepers, is showing positive results. Numbers of grazing sheep were cut, allowing the vegetation to recover in overgrazed areas, thereby providing cover and food for the birds. Also, gamekeepers are working to keep predators under control on the fringes of moorland and woodland, which are the Black Grouses’ preferred nesting areas.

Surveys conducted throughout the Black Grouse habitat area in northern England revealed that there has been a 4% increase of males between 1998 and 2006. Although conservationists believe that it is unlikely that the Black Grouse will ever return to the southern counties, they are hopeful that a significant recovery of Black Grouse will be experienced in the counties down the northern area of the Pennine Chain, as well as into the Forest of Bowland. Based on the success of the North Pennines Black Grouse Recovery Project, similar projects are likely to be implemented for the conservation of other threatened bird species.

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