all endangered birds

[kenny]

hi all
due to a bit of prompting by paul,thats if its ok by laura...i intend putting a thread on just for endangered birds,most of which are on the red list what do you think


ken

[kenny]

http://www.birdlife.org/images/sized/200/b_basra_reed_warbler_cu.jpg.jpg (http://www.birdlife.org/zoom.html?desc=images/photos/b_basra_reed_warbler_cu.html&width=&caption=Basra+Reed-warbler+has+been+discovered+breeding+in+Israel+for +the+first+time) A F A Hawkins/BirdLife
Basra Reed-warbler has been discovered breeding in Israel for the first time
Rare warbler breeds in Israel

11-07-2006
One of the Middle East's most threatened species, the Basra Reed-warbler, has received a welcome boost.
Normally restricted as a breeding bird to the Mesopotamian marshes of southern Iraq (and probably also southwest Iran), a research team from SPNI (BirdLife in Israel) trapped and ringed four birds in Israel's Hula Valley in June 2006. The two males, a female with a brood patch, and an almost fully-grown juvenile, are the first of the species ever to be discovered breeding in Israel.
Basra Reed-warbler Acrocephalus griseldis was listed by BirdLife as Endangered on the 2004 IUCN Red List, due to an 80% decrease in the species' breeding population—largely a consequence of the draining of the Mesopotamian marshes by former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.
However, this news from northern Israel raises hopes for the species, as do recent improvements to its marsh habitat in Iraq.
Although the warblers will soon return to their African wintering grounds, the Israel Ornithological Center is to initiate a monitoring scheme in future years to collect more information on the species' occurrence in the region and promote its long-term survival.

[kenny]

http://www.birdlife.org/images/sized/200/b_aquatic_warbler_rspb.jpg.jpg (http://www.birdlife.org/zoom.html?desc=images/photos/b_aquatic_warbler_rspb.html&width=600&caption=An+estimated+95%25+of+Aquatic+Warbler+habi tat+has+been+lost+in+the+last+century.) Alexander Kozulin
An estimated 95% of Aquatic Warbler habitat has been lost in the last century.
Aquatic Warbler given LIFE-line

04-12-2006
A significant step has been taken toward the protection of key habitat for Europe’s rarest songbird. OTOP (BirdLife Poland) is embarking on a large-scale project to protect key sites for the Globally Threatened Aquatic Warbler in Poland and neighbouring Germany.
The OTOP project - which is funded by the EU LIFE Nature Fund and also supported by the RSPB (BirdLife in the UK) – aims to promote Aquatic Warbler-friendly management of 42,000 hectares (approximately 160 square miles) of fen and wet meadow, mostly in Poland, but also in a small part of Germany. For this area, suitable management plans will be developed and agreed with the local landusers. Of this, an area of about 3,000 ha will be restored as the project progresses. Where necessary, OTOP will also purchase land in key areas.
News of the project represents a significant step toward the protection of the legendary Biebrza Marshes in Northeast Poland, which are one of the focus areas of this project. OTOP has secured the purchase of the first parcels of land in what is planned to become a very valuable place for birds, local people and visitors.
“The wildlife of the Biebrza Marshes is incredibly important and distinctive. Four out of five of all the European Union’s aquatic warblers occur here, as well as around half of the EU’s greater spotted eagles, along with great snipe, elk and beaver.” said Izabela Flor, Chief Executive of OTOP.

[kenny]

VUCaroline Islands Ground-dove Gallicolumba kubaryi
2006 IUCN Red List Category (as evaluated by BirdLife International - the official Red List Authority for birds for IUCN): Vulnerable

Justification This species qualifies as Vulnerable because it has a very small population which appears to be declining on at least one island, probably owing to hunting, predation and the increasing cultivation of sakau. Its two subpopulations are also estimated to number less than 1,000 individuals.



Family/Sub-family Columbidae
Species name author (Finsch, 1880)
Taxonomic source(s) Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993)
Identification 28 cm. Medium-sized, short-tailed dove. Adults mostly black posteriorly, with purplish-crimson back and shoulders. White head and breast with black crown connected at rear with black postocular stripe. Juveniles dark rusty-brown. Voice Low moan, rarely uttered. Hints Shy and retiring, usually in forest but often found in gardens at mid-elevation on Chuuk. Partial to mangroves on Pohnpei.

http://www.birdlife.info/wbdbweb/images/speciespicture/2613.gifPopulation estimate
Population trend
Range estimate (breeding/resident)
Country endemic?
250-999
decreasing
428 km2
Yes

Range & population Gallicolumba kubaryi is endemic to the Federated States of Micronesia, occurring on the islands of Pohnpei, where the population was estimated at 841 birds in 1983-1984, and Chuuk (= Truk), where it was estimated at 294 in 1983-19844. A Chuuk population estimate in 2001 indicates a significantly smaller population8. In 1994, a repeat survey on Pohnpei recorded a decrease in encounter rate in the lowlands3. Populations have probably always been low, at least in historical times1,4.

http://www.birdlife.info/wbdbweb/images/speciesmap/2000-2613.gifEcology On Pohnpei, it inhabits brushy ravines, appearing to prefer those where hibiscus Hibiscus tiliaceus forms dense thickets (a highly disturbed habitat, often near settlements2) and is also found in lowland forests, mangroves and, less commonly, in montane forest. On Chuuk, it is found in agricultural and native forest at all elevations4. Surprisingly dense populations have been found on some islets, indicating that coastal strand/forest vegetation is also suitable5. It feeds primarily on the ground on seeds, worms and small snails2. It nests in deep forest, up to 180 m. On Chuuk, nests with eggs have been found in February, April, June and September. Clutch-size is one2.

[kenny]

Action Plans for African Globally Threatened Birds

http://www.birdlife.org/images/sized/200/b_white-necked_picathartes2.jpg.jpg (http://www.birdlife.org/zoom.html?desc=images/photos/b_white-necked_picathartes2.html&width=&caption=) Jason D Weckstein, Ben D Marks/NCRC
The globally threatened White-necked Picathartes is one of the Upper Guinea Forest's most extraordinary birds

Overview

This project was set up by the BirdLife African Species Working Group and the RSPB (BirdLife in the UK) to enhance the conservation of key bird species through the development and implementation of Species Action Plans (SAPs). They were funded by the Darwin Initiative.
The project aims to:

build the capacity of government officials and NGOs to develop Action Plan based approaches for the conservation of threatened birds
strengthen individual BirdLife Partners and the BirdLife African Partnership in general to manage species conservation activities run within the Partnership, and
provide input to network development by identifying priority countries for recruitment into the BirdLife African Partnership

hi all these are samples of what i would put up...and dont say its ok just so you will not upset me...i am just thinking of ways to keep the site ticking over till the breeding season kicks off so if you dont like it say so please

ken

[laurab]

Nice one Kenny, perhaps we should draw ITN's attention to it :D

[kenny]

hi boss
so its ok to carry on the thread

ken

[kenny]

this is a real red list candidate

http://www.birdlife.org/images/sized/200/b_piping_plover.jpg.jpg (http://www.birdlife.org/zoom.html?desc=images/photos/b_piping_plover.html&width=&caption=) Nature Canada Collection
Piping Plover is listed as Near-Threatened by BirdLife International
Conservationists unite in Piping Plover lawsuit

12-12-2006
A coalition of leading conservation groups in Canada have filed a lawsuit against the Canadian Environment Minister for her ministry's refusal to identify critical habitat in the recovery strategy of Piping Plover.
Nature Canada (BirdLife in Canada), together with other national conservation organisations, state that the federal government is failing to adequately implement the Species at Risk Act by not identifying critical habitat in recovery planning documents for Piping Plover.
Piping Plover Charadrius melodus is listed as Near-Threatened by BirdLife International, the official Red List Authority for birds for the IUCN Red List. In recent years crucial habitat for plover is thought to have faced increased pressures as a result of drought, inappropriate water and beach management and from gas and oil industry dredging.

ken

[kenny]

hi all
i am so annoyed at this i cannot even comment!

Home (http://www.birdlife.org/index.html) > News (http://www.birdlife.org/news/index.html) > Press Releases (http://www.birdlife.org/news/pr/index.html) >
http://www.birdlife.org/images/sized/200/b_grenada_dove.jpg.jpg (http://www.birdlife.org/zoom.html?desc=images/photos/b_grenada_dove.html&width=&caption=) B. Rusk
The global population of Grenada Dove equates to just 180 birds.
Government of Grenada sells off National Park for Four Seasons resort

19-12-2006
A ‘high-end luxury resort’ threatens one of the last remaining refuges for the Grenada Dove, a Critically Endangered species with a global population of just 180 birds. In an unprecedented move the Government of Grenada looks set to sell the whole of the Mount Hartman National Park to make space for a Four Seasons Resort, on the basis of its biodiverse location and “sea-view”. [1]
The Mount Hartman National Park – also called ‘The Dove Sanctuary’ - in the south-west of Grenada, supports at least 22% of the global population of the Grenada Dove - equating to just 20 pairs. With such a low population in just a few remnant patches of forest, Grenada Dove is facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the near future. [2] [3]
The Sanctuary was created 10 years ago, in order to mitigate for habitat removal elsewhere on the island, partly from development. This year saw the opening of a visitor centre to mark the educational value of the park for tourists and local people. [4] But now the proposed hotel project, supported by theFour Seasons Hotels and Resorts group, plans a 150 room hotel, 300 luxury villas as well as a golf course, marina and conference centre. Dove Sanctuary was chosen on the basis of its natural surroundings, a rare commodity in Grenada today, and the unimpeded sea-views that abound throughout it.
Dove Sanctuary has been identified by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area (IBA) for the Grenada Dove and for eleven other species that occur only on Grenada or in the Caribbean region like Antillean Crested Hummingbird Orthohyncus cristatus and Grenada Flycatcher Myiarchus nugatory. [5]
Of the proposed development David Wege, Caribbean Programme Manager at BirdLife International said: “There is more at stake here than just the removal of crucial habitat. The dwindling Grenada Dove population will suffer further from increased isolation, from human disturbance, from non-native animals and with the planting of non-native ‘aesthetic’ vegetation. Such a development in the heart of the Grenada Dove's largest and most well-protected strongholds might lead to the eventual extinction of this species.” [6]
http://www.birdlife.org/images/sized/200/mounthartman.jpg.jpg (http://www.birdlife.org/zoom.html?desc=images/photos/mounthartman.html&width=&caption=) B. Rusk
Mount Hartman National Park forms part of Grenada's dry-forest ecosystem

[kenny]

Regional Threatened Bird of the Week
http://www.birdlife.info/wbdbweb/images/speciespicture/8532.gif (http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/search/species_search.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid= 8532&m=0)
Clarke's Weaver
Ploceus golandi (http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/search/species_search.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid= 8532&m=0)



hope this stirs up some feelings...if we had them in this country we would be breeding them instead of letting people kill them off

[kenny]

Seychelles Paradise Flycatcher - 18.12.06
Project to restore endangered bird launched

A £200,000 project to restore the population of the endangered bird, the Seychelles Paradise Flycatcher, of which there are only 200 remaining, was launched on Friday December 15 by the Member of the National Assembly for La Digue and Inner Islands, Ansley Constance.
http://www.nation.sc/images/image8009
He did so at the Nature Seychelles Environment and Education Centre at Roche Caiman, in the presence of the British High Commissioner, Diana Skingle, the principal secretary for Environment, Dr Rolph Payet, Dr Jim Groombridge, who will lead the three-year programme, and chief executive officer of Nature Seychelles, Nirmal Shah.
Also present were local and international scientists and conservationists, who had just completed a preparatory workshop that was aimed at preparing them to take part in the project.
The Paradise Flycatcher is the last of Seychelles' endemic birds to be listed as critically endangered on the World Conservation Union’s (IUCN) Red List of endangered species.http://www.nation.sc/images/image8008
As the Flycatcher is unique to La Digue, the conservation team will focus considerable resources on ensuring that any measures put in place to protect the birds are approved by the local community.
When launching the project, Mr Constance thanked all the partners involved in it, particularly the Darwin Initiative, saying that the programme is special as it is aimed at protecting a bird that is well-loved by the people of La Digue, and which brings key benefits to Seychelles through its tourism attraction, and to the world.
“We must take care of this treasure, and on behalf of the Diguois, many of whom took part in the preparatory workshop, I would like to say that we view this project as very important,” he said.
http://www.nation.sc/images/image7992Ms Skingle noted that the project is funded by the United Kingdom Government’s Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
“It is not easy to secure funding under this prestigious programme. And it is not Seychelles’ first Darwin project. The fact that Seychelles has been the beneficiary of previous Darwin projects is a testament not only to your unique island biodiversity, but also the reputation and skills of your own experts, and to the success of your environmental management and conservation policies and programmes,” she said.

[kenny]

http://www.birdlife.org/images/sized/200/b_madagascar_pochardresize.jpg.jpg (http://www.birdlife.org/zoom.html?desc=images/photos/b_madagascar_pochardresize.html&width=&caption=)
Madagascar Pochard - adult male
Diving duck resurfaces

20-11-2006
The Madagascar Pochard, a diving duck last sighted in 1991 and feared ‘Possibly Extinct’, has been rediscovered during a survey in remote northern Madagascar.
Conservationists from The Peregrine Fund Madagascar Project, discovered nine adults and four recently-hatched young on a remote lake, and have since revisited the site for further observations and data.
“This is an exciting discovery that strengthens our conviction that putting well-trained biologists into the field to learn about species is critical for conservation success,” said Rick Watson, International Programs Director for The Peregrine Fund.
“With better knowledge about the habitat requirements of the Madagascar Pochard comes greater hopes for protecting the species and this area of marshland – a habitat on which many other threatened species may depend.” —Vony Raminoarisoa, Director of BirdLife International Madagascar Programme
The Madagascar Pochard Aythya innotata was until recently listed as Critically Endangered (Possibly Extinct). The last pochard sighting was on Lake Alaotra in the Central Plateau of Madagascar in 1991 when a male was captured and kept in Antananarivo Zoological and Botanical Gardens until its death one year later. The lack of subsequent records despite intensive searches, and the intensity of threats to the species, had led to it being tagged as Possibly Extinct.

The last record of multiple birds dates back to June 1960 when 20 birds were sighted on Lake Alaotra.

“After so much searching, and so long without a sighting, hope seemed to be fading for this species." said Vony Raminoarisoa, Director of BirdLife International Madagascar Programme. "With better knowledge about the habitat requirements of the Madagascar Pochard comes greater hopes for protecting the species and this area of marshland – a habitat on which many other threatened species may depend.”
The decline of the Madagascar Pochard is thought to have started in the mid-20th century and has been linked with degrading lake and marshland habitat from introduced plant and fish species, conversion to rice paddies, and burning. Little is known about the pochard, an extremely secretive and often solitary bird that prefers shallow and marshy habitat.
"The finding encourages us to consider more seriously the possibly that Madagascar's other 'Possibly Extinct' waterbird, the Alaotra Grebe, may not have been restricted to Lake Alaotra (where it no longer occurs); perhaps it occurred elsewhere, and perhaps it still does" said Roger Safford, Programme & Projects Manager, BirdLife International.

[kenny]

this is asias most threatened bird of the week





Regional Threatened Bird of the Week
http://www.birdlife.info/wbdbweb/images/speciespicture/1435.gif (http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/search/species_search.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid= 1435&m=0)
Blue-headed Racquet-tail
Prioniturus platenae (http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/search/species_search.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid= 1435&m=0)

[kenny]

look at this poor little mite!


http://www.birdlife.org/images/sized/200/b_mallee_emuwren.jpg.jpg (http://www.birdlife.org/zoom.html?desc=images/photos/b_mallee_emuwren.html&width=500&caption=) Rob Drummond
Threatened by habitat loss, the range of Australia's Mallee Emuwren has declined by up to 95%
Aussie battler contends with drought and fires

10-08-2006
Habitat fragmentation caused by drought and associated fires threatens one of Australia’s most elusive arid-zone residents—the Mallee Emuwren Stipiturus mallee.
Confined to inland South Australia and Victoria, the emuwren is dependent on significant areas of Triodia—commonly called spinifex or Porcupine grass because of its needle-like “leaves”—that has been unburned for around two decades. But years of drought, particularly in the southern and western parts of the emuwren’s range, have affected the health of the spinifex and almost led to the emuwren’s extinction in South Australia where the last significant population comprises 100 birds confined to 100 km² of Ngarkat Conservation Park, down from thousands of individuals spread over 2,000 km² in the early to mid 1990s—a 95% reduction in area occupied.
“The Mallee Emuwren’s habitat is now so fragmented that even small fires can have catastrophic consequences.” —Dr David Paton, University of Adelaide
The species’s core population is now found in two key areas in Victoria: Murray Sunset National Park and Hattah Kulkyne National Park and adjacent Crown land, and the total population could be around 3,000 birds. Currently Mallee Emuwren is classified as Vulnerable but is likely to be listed as Endangered in the near future.
“We know from studies of the closely related Southern Emuwren (S. malachurus) that birds are unlikely to disperse more than five kilometres, which effectively means we are dealing with isolated subpopulations,” says Dr David Paton from the University of Adelaide. “The Mallee Emuwren’s habitat is now so fragmented that even small fires can have catastrophic consequences.”
Even within Hattah Kulkyne and adjacent Crown land at Nowingi, fragmentation may be significant: the area is bisected by the Calder Highway, a railway line and a swathe of habitat removed beneath power lines. There are plans for an industrial toxic waste facility at Nowingi and the Mildura Fire plan proposes to burn a 250 m wide strip down the west side of the Calder Highway.
“Unless suitable habitat becomes available as present habitat deteriorates through old-age, compounded by drought and fires, Mallee Emuwren numbers have the potential to decline sharply within decades,” says Sarah Brown, a student studying emuwrens at Deakin University.

[kenny]

Island connects to mainland, causing worries about bird

January 6, 2007
CHATHAM, Mass. --A recent storm has connected South Monomoy Island off Chatham with the mainland, causing worries about new threats to the island's endangered birds.
Article Tools
The new land bridge means predators and humans have easier access to the skittish birds, the Cape Cod Times reported.


"It's a real dilemma," said Mike Brady, manager of the Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge. "We know it's going to be a much different year than the last 11."
In 1996, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service began a protection policy that increased the pairs of common terns nesting on the island from 300 to 10,000, the largest tern colony on the Atlantic seaboard. About 20 pairs of federally endangered roseate terns typically nest among their larger cousins.
The refuge's controversial management plan calls for the removal of all animals that harass the birds, their eggs or chicks between the nesting months of April through July. Several dozen coyotes, gulls and black-crowned night herons have been killed by refuge staff over the years.
With the island now connected to the mainland, other predators, such as skunks and raccoons, will have access to the nests, Brady said.
The refuge's staff is small, with Brady and a full-time biologist joined by five interns who staff a base camp on South Monomoy during the summer. Brady said there's no money to add personnel.
Tern expert Ian Nisbet questioned how long the Fish and Wildlife Service can maintain the tern colony, giving dwindling resources. He said the success of Monomoy's tern colony depends on keeping predators away. A persistent predator, such as a great horned owl or fox, can quickly destroy a colony, said Nisbet, who has been working with several other colonies in the area, including Bird Island in Buzzards Bay.http://cache.boston.com/bonzai-fba/File-Based_Image_Resource/dingbat_story_end_icon.gif

[kenny]

12:17 a.m. January 6, 2007

HARLINGEN, Texas – Once down to about 15, the world's only naturally migrating flock of whooping cranes has continued its comeback, now numbering a record 237 birds in wintering grounds along Texas' Gulf Coast.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist Tom Stehn, who tracks the flock, said 45 cranes were born last year, including a rare seven sets of twins.
He credited the increase to mild weather at their nesting grounds in Wood Buffalo National Park in northern Canada's boreal forest. There, the birds begin their 2,500-mile migration route from their summering grounds to Texas.
“They avoided having that cold weather hit, that just-above-freezing and drizzle that seems to kill the chicks,” he said.
Stehn flies at low altitudes over the 35-mile stretch of Texas coastline where the birds feast on blue crab and wolfberries. The cranes tend to stay in family groups in territories about a mile wide.
Stehn, who plots the groups on photocopied maps of the areas, counted 220 of the endangered species in 2005.
Wildlife officials say the whooping crane, the tallest bird in North America, illustrates how a concerted effort of legislation and public awareness can help a species rebound.
While far from reaching the kind of numbers enjoyed by the gray whale and American peregrine falcon on the Fish and Wildlife Service's list of recovered species, the crane's numbers have slowly increased since counting began in 1938.
It took most of the 20th century to educate people about the whooping crane.
“People in the 1920s were really realizing how rare they really are,” Stehn said, attributing the decline to habitat loss and hunting. “A lot of the early whooping crane actions were to get the word out to sportsmen to make sure hunting was no longer a factor in losses. Probably by the 1950s that message was finally getting out.”
Government action also helped. A 1916 treaty between the United States and Canada – later expanded to include Mexico, Russia and Japan – made it illegal to shoot birds outside of an established hunting season.
Land for the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge near Corpus Christi, which covers a large part of the whoopers' wintering grounds, was acquired in the 1930s to protect water fowl.
The whooping crane was one of the first species listed under the Endangered Species Act of 1973.
A nonprofit group is coordinating an effort to establish a second migrating flock. Each fall, Operation Migration leads cranes from a Wisconsin refuge to one in Florida using ultralight aircraft. The birds migrate back north on their own in the spring.

[kenny]

http://www.birdlife.org/images/sized/200/b_yellow-eyed_penguin_gandy.jpg.jpg (http://www.birdlife.org/zoom.html?desc=images/photos/b_yellow-eyed_penguin_gandy.html&width=&caption=The+Yellow-eyed+Penguin+%3CI%3EMegadyptes+antipodes%3C%2FI%3E +is+considered+to+be+the+world%27s+rarest+penguin+ species) Dave Gandy
The Yellow-eyed Penguin is considered to be the world's rarest penguin species
Mystery illness threatens world's rarest penguin


New Zealand's rare Yellow-eyed Penguins are suffering from a mysterious illness that has killed up to 80% of chicks in the worst affected areas of the South Island.
Most penguin chicks have been found dead at nests on Otago Peninsula and North Otago, with other outbreaks on Stewart Island and the Catlins coast.
With a global population of just under 5,000 birds, the Yellow-eyed Penguin Megadyptes antipodes is classified by BirdLife as Endangered and is considered to be the world's rarest penguin species. Its main threats are introduced predators such as cats and stoats, habitat loss and degradation, and occasional population crashes (similar to this one) due to disease or food shortages.
New Zealand's Department of Conservation (DoC) are currently running tests to try and pinpoint the extent and nature of the illness, which is thought to be caused by a strain of cornynebacterium. There are more than 50 strains of this type of infection, one of which causes human diphtheria.
"This latest die-off is bad news for the world's rarest penguin species." —Barry Weeber, Forest and Bird
"This latest die-off is bad news for the world's rarest penguin species. Subpopulations on the south-east coast of the South Island and Stewart Island are already in decline and this will only add to the pressures this endangered species faces," said Barry Weeber, Senior Conservation Officer, Forest and Bird (BirdLife in New Zealand).
So far it seems that only chicks are susceptible to the illness, with adult birds fortunately remaining healthy. Some accessible chicks on Otago Peninsula however are being given antibiotics to help fight any infection.
Large nearby colonies of Little Penguins Eudyptula minor do not appear to have been affected.