Photo: Rex / Rick Dobson
Startling claims in new 'Birdlife' report
The Independent newspaper in England has stated recently that one in eight of the world's bird species are threatened with extinction. The Independent was quoting a new report by Birdlife International's State of the World Birds analysis of five years-worth of data. Among birds threatened with extinction are Snowy Owls and Puffins. In recent decades the populations of a number of species have declined by 90% or more. In all, 13% of avian species worldwide (1,469 of 10,996) are described as vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered by the ICUN (International Union of Conservation of Nature). 75% of threatened species have been hit by agriculture expansion, the report said, due to land clearance and deforestation required for new fields, which is occurring most rapidly in the tropics. Neonicotinoid pesticides "...clearly pose a serious risk to migrating seed-eating birds", researchers said, adding that "There is also concern that they may build up along food chains and be retained by soils and plants for may years'. In the case of the critically-endangered Yellow-breasted Bunting, it has been said it was one of the most numerous species in Eurasia. But since 1980, its population has plunged by 90% and its range has dwindled. The report stated "Although oficially banned, large-scale hunting of the Chinese delicacy continues. In 2001, an estimated 1 million buntings, a.k.a. the "Rice Bird", were consumed in Guangdong province alone". The document also highlighted vulture disappearances from large parts of Africa, with numbers of seven species falling by 80 to 97% in the past 30 years. Overall, 40% of species were in decline, compared to 44% that were stable, with 7% on the rise and 8% with unknown statistical trends.
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BarrytheBirder
