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Number of threatened bird species falls in latest conservation update
We now know more about the threats affecting birds than ever before.
The latest update to the State of the World’s Birds report reveals that almost all birds have now been given a conservation status, making it easier to conserve under-pressure species.
The latest conservation assessment of the world’s birds is in.
An update to the IUCN’s Red List of Threatened Species reveals that birds’ conservation status appears to be improving, with 46 fewer species considered threatened with extinction than two years ago. In fact, over three quarters of bird species are now classed as Least Concern – the lowest rung on the Red List.
However, the update wasn’t all good news. Continuing habitat loss, as well as an outbreak of bird flu, pose serious risks to the survival of many birds. There’s an urgent need to restore the areas that species depend on for food, shelter and breeding to ensure species continue to survive.
Dr Alex Bond, Principal Curator and Curator in Charge of Birds at the Natural History Museum, says, ‘While the drop in globally threatened species is good to see, it’s by no means an unmitigated win for birds. The world is changing at a fast pace, and the impacts of forestry, agriculture and invasive species are putting real pressure on many species.’
The update to the State of the World’s Birds was carried out by conservation group BirdLife International.
The cinnamon-rumped trogon has been upgraded to Vulnerable as a result of forest loss. © Thipwan /Shutterstock.
What challenges are birds facing?
The key threats to birds detailed in the update don’t come as a surprise. Farming and logging both clear the landscapes that different species rely on for food and habitat while the introduction of invasive species threatens their populations.
These effects are particularly pronounced on islands, where the isolation of birds makes them more vulnerable to changes.
For example, two Hawaiian honeycreepers, the ‘anianiau and Kaua’i ‘amakihi, are being badly affected following the clearance of land on the archipelago and the arrival of non-native mosquitos. These insects are now spreading avian pox and malaria among the birds, which saw their populations crash by around 60% between 2008 and 2018.
The Hawaiian species have been uplisted to Endangered, alongside the Juan Fernandez tit-tyrant. This bird, found only on Isla Robinson Crusoe off the Chilean coast, has been suffering from the impact of goats, snakes and cats introduced to the island.
While the impacts of habitat loss and invasive species are unlikely to go away anytime soon, the report also highlighted some new threats on the horizon. An outbreak of bird flu that began in 2021 is a particular concern, with the virus having reached mainland Antarctica for the first time earlier this year.
At the moment, however, its impacts are not reflected in the Red List.
‘The Red List takes a longer-term view on threats, on the scale of years and generations, rather than mass mortality from a specific moment in time,’ Alex says. ‘However, avian influenza, and disease more generally, are likely to become more of an issue and impact bird populations in ways we cannot anticipate yet going forward.’
Elliot's storm petrel has been left as Data Deficient, as it is unknown where the species breeds and what threats might impact it. © Wilfred Marissen /Shutterstock.
Shedding light on little known species
With unprecedented threats facing birds, it’s more important than ever to find out as much as possible to aid their conservation. Fortunately, the intense historic and ongoing scientific interest in birds means there are very few species that remain a mystery.
In the latest report, the number of species considered Data Deficient – where there isn’t enough information to provide a conservation status – has dropped to just 40, making up only 0.4% of all birds. In contrast, scientists are lacking conservation information on around 15% of mammals and reptiles, 16% of plants, and 20% of amphibians.
In the coming decade, it’s not unlikely that the final Data Deficient species will finally be classified, giving ornithologists a comprehensive overview of how birds are faring.
‘The remaining Data Deficient species may be newly described, or hard to study,’ Alex explains. ‘In seabirds, for example, it can be difficult to identify where a particular species breeds, and as threats to these areas can really impact a population, a bird may be left Data Deficient as a precaution.’
‘BirdLife have done a pretty fantastic job at going through them, however, and I’m certain more Data Deficient species will be eliminated in the next few years. It should only be a matter of time until all birds have been assigned a conservation status.’
With these in place, supported by data of species’ breeding, diet and habitat, specific steps can be taken to help them adapt to threats. The millerbird, for instance, has recovered from Critically Endangered to Endangered after a relocation to a nearby island established a new, self-sustaining population.
Wider initiatives to preserve areas important to birds can also play their part. At a recent UN meeting on migratory species, for instance, 30 countries agreed to work together to restore habitats that hundreds of species use in their migrations along the Central Asian Flyway.
Further steps to reduce our impact on the planet will help to ensure a brighter future for birds and reduce the number of threatened species even further.
