NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Bird conservation

Bird conservation is a field in the science of conservation biology related to threatened birds. Humans have had a large impact on many bird species, with over a hundred species have gone extinct in historical times, although the most dramatic human caused extinctions occurred in the Pacific Ocean as humans colonised the islands of Melanesia, Polynesia and Micronesia, during which an estimated 750-1800 species of bird went extinct.^[1] According to Worldwatch Institute, many bird populations are currently declining worldwide, with 1,200 species facing extinction in the next century.^[2] The biggest cited reason surrounds habitat loss.^[3] Other threats include overhunting, accidental mortality due to structural collisions and as long-line fishing bycatch, pollution, competition and predation by nonnative invasive species,^[4] oil spills and pesticide use and climate change. Governments, along with numerous conservation charities, work to protect birds, either through laws to protect birds, preserving and restoring bird habitat or establishing captive populations for reintroductions. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (750x1143, 149 KB) Summary Source: US Fish & Wildlife Service Author: Sykes, P. W. Licensing File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (750x1143, 149 KB) Summary Source: US Fish & Wildlife Service Author: Sykes, P. W. Licensing File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Trinomial name Ammodramus maritimus nigrescens (Ridgway, 1873) The dusky seaside sparrow, Ammodramus maritimus nigrescens, was once a non-migratory songbird common in Southern Florida, in the marshes of Merritt Island and along the St. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... Threatened species refers to animal and plant species under a serious, but perhaps not imminent, threat of extinction. ... Template:Reddsfsfirect {{{subdivision_ranks}}} Many - see section below. ... F16 after a bird strike A bird strike (sometimes birdstrike, bird hit, or BASH (bird aircraft strike hazard)) in aviation, is a collision between an airborne animal (most often a bird, but also sometimes another species) and a man made vehicle, especially aircraft. ... Long-line fishing is a commercial fishing technique that uses hundreds or even thousands of baited hooks hanging from a single line. ... In fisheries science, by-catch refers to species caught in a fishery intended to target another species, as well as reproductively_immature juveniles of the target species. ... Lantana Invasion of abandoned citrus plantation; Moshav Sdey Hemed, Israel; May 2, 2006 The term invasive species refers to a subset of those species defined as introduced species or non-indigenous species. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... A charitable trust is a trust organized to serve private or public charitable purposes. ... In-situ conservation means on-site conservation. It is the process of protecting an endangered plant or animal species in its natural habitat, either by protecting or cleaning up the habitat itself, or by defending the species from predators. ... Restoration ecology is the scientific discipline of environmental restoration, or returning degraded ecosystems and landscapes to a reference state where ecological communities and processes are re-established. ... Ex-situ conservation means literally, off-site conservation. It is the process of protecting an endangered species of plant or animal by removing it from an unsafe or threatened habitat and placing it or part of it under the care of humans. ...

Threats to birds

Habitat loss

The most critical threat facing threatened birds is the destruction and fragmentation of habitat.^[5] The loss of forests, plains and other natural systems into agriculture, mines, and urban developments, the drainiong of swamps and other wetlands, logging reduces potential habitat for many species. In addition the remaining patches of habitat are often too small to sustain bird populations and these populations are increasingly vulnerable to localised extinction (see Island biogeography). The loss of tropical rainforest is the most pressing problem, as these forests hold the highest number of species yet are being destroyed quickly. Habitat loss has been implicated in a number of extinctions, including the Ivory-billed Woodpecker, Bachman's Warbler and the Dusky Seaside Sparrow. Habitat destruction is a process of land use change in which one habitat-type is removed and replaced with some other habitat-type. ... Habitat fragmentation is a process of environmental change important in evolution and conservation biology. ... Loggers on break, c. ... The study of island biogeography is a field within biogeography that attempts to establish and explain the factors that affect the species diversity of a particular community. ... Amazon river rainforest in Brazil Tropical rainforests are rainforests which are generally found near the equator. ... Binomial name Campephilus principalis (Linnaeus, 1758) The Ivory-billed Woodpecker (Campephilus principalis) is a very large and extremely rare member of the woodpecker family, Picidae; it is officially listed as an endangered species, but by the end of the 20th century had widely been considered extinct. ... Binomial name Vermivora bachmanii Audubon, 1833 Bachmans Warbler (Vermivora bachmanii) was a small passerine bird that inhabited the swamps and lowland forests of the southeast United States. ... Trinomial name Ammodramus maritimus nigrescens (Ridgway, 1873) The dusky seaside sparrow, Ammodramus maritimus nigrescens, was once a non-migratory songbird common in Southern Florida, in the marshes of Merritt Island and along the St. ...

Introduced species

Historically the threat posed by introduced species has probably caused the most extinctions of birds, particularly on islands. 90% of historical extinctions occured on islands, and most prehistoric human caused ones were insular as well. Island species evolved in the absence of many predators and consequently lost many anti-predator behaviours.^[6] As humans travelled around the world they brought with them many species which island species were unfamiliar with. Some of these species were unfamilar predators, like rats, feral cats, and pigs, others were competitors, such as other bird species, or herbivores that degraded breeding habitat. Disease can also play a role; introduced avian malaria is thought to be a primary cause of many extinctions in Hawaii.^[7] The Dodo is the most famous example of a species that was probably driven to extinction by introduced species (although human hunting also played a role), other species that were victims of introduced species were the Stephens Island Wren, Poʻo-uli and the Laysan Millerbird. Many species treatened with extinction are threatened by introduced species, such as the Kōkako, Black Robin, Mariana Crow, and the Hawaiian Duck. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1050x702, 150 KB)Arctic Fox with Lest Auklet on St. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1050x702, 150 KB)Arctic Fox with Lest Auklet on St. ... Binomial name Alopex lagopus (Linnaeus, 1758) Arctic Fox range The Arctic fox (Alopex lagopus), also known as the polar fox, is a small fox native to cold Arctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere. ... Aleutians seen from space The Aleutian Islands (possibly from Chukchi aliat, island) are a chain of more than 300 small volcanic islands forming an island arc in the Northern Pacific Ocean, occupying an area of 6,821 sq mi (17,666 kmÂ²) and extending about 1,200 mi (1,900... Binomial name Aethia pusilla (Pallas, 1811) The Least Auklet, Aethia pusilla, is a seabird and the smallest species of auk. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into invasive species. ... This article is about evolution in biology. ... Island tameness is the tendency of many populations and species of animals living on isolated islands to lose their wariness of potential predators, particularly of large animals. ... Species 50 species; see text *Several subfamilies of Muroids include animals called rats. ... Rescued feral kittens Most feral kittens have little chance of surving more than a few months and are vulnerable to starvation, predators, disease and even flea-induced anemia. ... This article is about the pig genus. ... Malaria is a vector-borne infectious disease that is widespread in tropical and subtropical regions. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Binomial name Raphus cucullatus Linnaeus, 1758 Former range (in red) Synonyms Didus ineptus Probably the earliest accurate drawings of a dodo (1601-1603) The Mauritius Dodo (Raphus cucullatus), more commonly just dodo, was a metre-high (three-foot) flightless bird related to the pigeons that lived on the islands of... Binomial name Xenicus lyalli Rothschild, 1894 The Stephens Island Wren (Xenicus lyalli) is famous for being considered the only known species to be entirely wiped out by a single individual. ... The Laysan Millerbird (Acrocephalus familiaris familiaris) was a subspecies of the Millerbird similar to the Nihoa Millerbird. ... Threatened species refers to animal and plant species under a serious, but perhaps not imminent, threat of extinction. ... Binomial name Callaeas cinerea (Gmelin, 1788) The KÅkako (Callaeas cinerea) is a forest bird which is endemic to New Zealand. ... Binomial name Petroica traversi (Buller, 1872) The Black Robin or Chatham Island Robin is an endangered bird from the Chatham Islands off the east coast of New Zealand. ... Binomial name Anas wyvilliana Sclater, 1878 The Hawaiian Duck (Anas wyvilliana) is a species of the genus Anas. ...

Hunting and exploitation

Humans have exploited birds for a very long time, and sometimes this exploitation has resulted in extinction. Overhunting occurred in some instances with naive species unfamiliar with humans, such as the moa of New Zealand,^[8] in other cases it was an industrial level of hunting that led to extinction. The Passenger Pigeon was once the most numerous species of bird alive (possibly ever), overhunting reduced a species that once numbered in the billions to extinction.^[9] Hunting pressure can be for food, sport, feathers, or even come from scientists collecting museum specimens. Collection of Great Auks for museums pushed the already rare species to extinction. Island tameness is the tendency of many populations and species of animals living on isolated islands to lose their wariness of potential predators, particularly of large animals. ... Genera Anomalopteryx (bush moa) Euryapteryx Megalapteryx (upland moa) Dinornis (giant moa) Emeus Pachyornis Moa were giant flightless birds native to New Zealand. ... Binomial name Ectopistes migratorius (Linnaeus, 1766) The Passenger Pigeon (Ectopistes migratorius) or Wild Pigeon was a species of pigeon that was once the most common bird in North America. ... Two feathers Feathers are one of the epidermal growths that form the distinctive outer covering, or plumage, on birds. ... Binomial name Pinguinus impennis (Linnaeus, 1758) The Great Auk (Pinguinus impennis) is an extinct bird. ...

The harvesting of parrots for the pet trade has led to many species becoming endangered. Between 1986-1988 2 million parrots were legally imported into the US alone. Parrots are also illegally smuggled between countries, and rarer species can command high prices. It has been suggested that True parrots be merged into this article or section. ...

Other threats

Birds face a number of other threats. Pollution has led to serious declines in some species. The pesticide DDT was responsible for thinning egg shells in nesting birds, particularly seabirds and birds of prey that are high on the food chain.^[10] Seabirds are also vulnerable to oil spills, which destroy the plumage's waterproofing causing the bird to drown or die of hypothermia.^[11] Light pollution can also have a damaging effect on some species, particularly nocturnal seabirds such as petrels.^[12] Image File history File links Albatross_hook. ... Image File history File links Albatross_hook. ... Pollution is the release of environmental contaminants. ... A cropduster spreading pesticide. ... DDT or Dichloro-Diphenyl-Trichloroethane is the first modern pesticide and is arguably the best known organic pesticide. ... The Sooty Tern is highly aerial and marine and will spend years flying at sea without returning to land. ... If you are looking for other meanings of the term, refer to Bird of prey (disambiguation). ... An oil spill is mine the unintentional release of liquid petroleum hydrocarbon into the environment as a result of human activity. ... Closeup on a single white feather A feather is one of the epidermal growths that forms the distinctive outer covering, or plumage, on a bird. ... Hypothermia refers to any condition in which the temperature of a body drops below the level required for normal metabolism and/or bodily function to take place. ... This time exposure photo of New York City shows sky glow, one form of light pollution. ... A bat illustrating nocturnal features. ... The petrels are seabirds in the bird order Procellariiformes. ...

Seabirds face another threat in the form of bycatch; where birds in the water become tangled in fishing nets or hooked on lines set out by long-line fisheries. As many as 100,000 albatrosses are hooked and drown each year on tuna lines set out by long-line fisheries.^[13] Migrating birds are also threatened by high rise buildings; an estimated million birds a year are killed this way in the US. In fisheries science, by-catch refers to species caught in a fishery intended to target another species, as well as reproductively_immature juveniles of the target species. ... Long-line fishing is a commercial fishing technique that uses hundreds or even thousands of baited hooks hanging from a single line. ... Flock of Barnacle Geese during autumn migration Many species of birds undertake seasonal journeys of various lengths, a phenomenon known as Bird migration. ...

Conservation techniques

Scientists and conservation professionals have developed a number of techniques to protect bird species. These techniques have had varying levels of success.

Captive breeding

Captive breeding, or ex-situ conservation, has been used in a number of instances to save species from extinction. The principal is to create a viable population of a species in either zoos or breeding facilities, for later reintroduction back into to the wild. As such a captive population can either serve as an insurance against the species going extinct in the wild or as a last ditch effort in situations where conservation in the wild is impossible. Captive breeding has been used to save several species from extinction, the most famous example being the California Condor, a species that declined to less than thirty birds. In order to save the California Condor the decision was made to take every individual left in the wild into captivity. From these 22 individuals a breeding programme began that brought the numbers up to 273 by 2005. An even more impressive recovery was that of the Mauritius Kestrel, which by 1974 had dropped to only four individuals, yet by 2006 the population was 800.^[14] Captive breeding is the process of breeding endangered animals by capturing them from their natural environment, breeding them in restricted conditions in zoos and other conservation facilities, and releasing them back to the wild when the population stabilizes and the threat to the animal in the wild is lessened or... Giraffes in Sydneys Taronga Zoo A zoological garden, zoological park, or zoo is a facility in which animals are confined within enclosures and displayed to the public, and in which they may also be bred. ... Binomial name Gymnogyps californianus Shaw, 1797 Synonyms Genus-level: Antillovultur Arredondo, 1976 Pseudogryphus Species-level: Vultur californianus Shaw, 1797 Gymnogyps amplus L. H. Miller, 1911 The California Condor, Gymnogyps californianus, is a species of bird in one of the vulture families. ... Binomial name Falco punctatus Temminck, 1821 The Mauritius Kestrel (Falco punctatus) is a bird of prey from the family Falconidae endemic to Mauritius. ...

Reintroduction and translocations

Reintroductions of captive bred populations can occur to replenish wild populations of an endangered species, to create new populations or to restore a species after it has become extinct in the wild. Reintroductions helped bring the wild populations of Hawaiian Geese from 30 birds to over 500. The Mauritius Kestrel was successfully reintroduced into the wild after its captive breeding programme.^[14] Reintroductions can be very difficult and often fail if insufficient preparations are made, as species born in captivity may lack the skills and knowledge needed for life in the wild after living in captivity. Reintroductions can also fail if the causes of a birds decline have not been adequately addressed. Attempts to reintroduce the Bali Starling into the wild failed due to continued poaching of reintroduced birds.^[15] Binomial name Branta sandvicensis (Vigors, 1833) The Hawaiian Goose or NÄ“nÄ“, Branta sandvicensis, is a species of goose endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. ... Binomial name Leucopsar rothschildi Stresemann, 1912 The Bali Starling, or Bali Myna, Leucopsar rothschildi, is a myna, a member of the starling family. ...

Translocations involve moving populations of threatened species into areas of suitable habitat currently unused by the species. There are several reasons for doing this; the creation of secondary populations that act as an insurance against disaster, or in many cases threats faced by the original population in its current location. One famous translocation was of the Kakapo of New Zealand. These large flightless parrots were unable to cope with introduced predators in their remaining habitat on Stewart Island, so were moved to smaller offshore islands that had been cleared of predators. From there a management programme managed to save the species. Binomial name Strigops habroptilus Gray, 1845 The Kakapo (MÄori: kÄkÄpÅ, meaning night parrot), Strigops habroptilus (from the Greek strix, genitive strigos: owl and ops: face; and habros: soft, and ptilon: feather), also called owl parrot, is a species of nocturnal parrot endemic to New Zealand. ... It has been suggested that True parrots be merged into this article or section. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into invasive species. ... Stewart Island is the third largest island of New Zealand. ...

Notes and references

^ Steadman D, (2006). Extinction and Biogeography in Tropical Pacific Birds, University of Chicago Press. ISBN 978-0-226-77142-7
^ Worldwatch Paper #165: Winged Messengers: The Decline of Birds. Retrieved on 2006-07-21.
^ Help Migratory Birds Reach Their Destinations. Retrieved on 2006-07-21.
^ Protect Backyard Birds and Wildlife: Keep Pet Cats Indoors. Retrieved on 2006-07-21.
^ Gill, F. (1995) Ornithology W.H Freeman and Company, New York ISBN 0-7167-2415-4
^ Blumstein D,. Daniel J (2005) "The loss of anti-predator behaviour following isolation on islands" Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series B-Biological Sciences 272: 1663–1668
^ Atkinson C, Dusek R, Woods K, Iko W (2000) "Pathogenicity of avian malaria in experimentally-infected Hawaii Amakihi" Journal of Wildlife Diseases 36(2):197-204
^ Holdaway R, Jacomb C (2000) "Rapid Extinction of the Moas (Aves: Dinornithiformes): Model, Test, and Implications" Science 287(5461): 2250 - 2254
^ Eckert, Allan W. (1965). The Silent Sky: The Incredible Extinction of the Passenger Pigeon. Lincoln NE: IUniverse.com. ISBN 0-595-08963-1.
^ Grier W, (1982) "Ban of DDT and subsequent recovery of Reproduction in bald eagles" Science 218(4578): 1232-1235
^ Dunnet, G., Crisp, D., Conan, G., Bourne, W. (1982) "Oil Pollution and Seabird Populations [and Discussion]" Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. B 297(1087): 413-427
^ Le Correa, M., Ollivier, A., Ribesc S., Jouventin, P., (2002) "Light-induced mortality of petrels: a 4-year study from Réunion Island (Indian Ocean)" Biological Conservation 105: 93–102 [1]
^ Brothers NP. 1991. "Albatross mortality and associated bait loss in the Japanese longline fishery in the southern ocean." Biological Conservation 55: 255-268.
^ ^a ^b Jones, CG; Heck, W; Lewis, RE; Mungroo, Y; Slade, G; Cade, T (1995) " The restoration of the Mauritius kestrel Falco punctatus population" Ibis 137(Suppl.1): 173-180
^ Putra M & Prins H (2000) "Status and distribution of the endemic Bali starling Leucopsar rothschildi" Oryx 34(3): 188–197

For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... July 21 is the 202nd day (203rd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 163 days remaining. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... July 21 is the 202nd day (203rd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 163 days remaining. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... July 21 is the 202nd day (203rd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 163 days remaining. ...

External links

Categories: Conservation | Birds Template:Reddsfsfirect {{{subdivision_ranks}}} Many - see section below. ... Anatomy of a typical bird Bird anatomy shows so many unusual adaptations (mostly aiding flight) that birds have earned their own unique class in the vertebrate phylum. ... It has been suggested that keel (bird) be merged into this article or section. ... Flight is the main mode of locomotion used by most of the worlds bird species. ... In most birds and reptiles, an egg (Latin ovum) is the zygote, resulting from fertilization of the ovum. ... Closeup on a single white feather A feather is one of the epidermal growths that forms the distinctive outer covering, or plumage, on a bird. ... Closeup on a single white feather A feather is one of the epidermal growths that forms the distinctive outer covering, or plumage, on a bird. ... Binomial name Archaeopteryx lithographica Meyer, 1861 Synonyms see text Archaeopteryx (from Ancient Greek Î±ÏÏ‡Î±Î¹Î¿Ï‚ archaios meaning ancient and Ï€Ï„ÎµÏÏ…Î¾ pteryx meaning feather or wing;[1] pronounced ), from the late Jurassic Period (Kimmeridgian stage, 155-150 million years ago) of what is now Germany, is the earliest and most primitive known avian. ... A bird hybrid is basically a bird that has two different species as parents. ... For a list of early taxa of birds known only from fossils, see Fossil birds. ... For a list of birds extinct in Late Quaternary prehistoric times and (usually) known from specimens not completely fossilized, see Later Quaternary Prehistoric Birds. ... The Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy is a radical bird taxonomy based on DNA-DNA hybridization studies conducted in the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s. ... Since 1500, over 100 species of birds have become extinct, and this rate of extinction seems to be increasing. ... Bird songs are certain vocal sounds that birds makeâ€”in non-technical use, those sounds that are melodious to the human ear. ... The level of intelligence in birds, as a scientific inquiry, has not been as thoroughly researched as similar questions regarding primates and other mammals. ... Flock of Barnacle Geese during autumn migration Many species of birds undertake seasonal journeys of various lengths, a phenomenon known as Bird migration. ... A Common Cuckoo being raised by a Reed Warbler. ... The Sooty Tern is highly aerial and marine and will spend years flying at sea without returning to land. ... Families Charadridae Jacanidae Rostratulidae Ibidorhynchidae Recurvirostridae Haematopodidae Scolopacidae Dromadidae Burhinidae Glareolidae Thinocoridae Waders, called Shorebirds in North America (where wader is used to refer to long-legged wading birds such as storks and herons), are members of the order Charadriiformes, excluding the more marine web-footed seabird groups. ... Falcated Duck at Slimbridge Wildfowl and Wetlands centre, Gloucestershire, England Wildfowl or waterfowl, also waterbirds, is the collective term for the approximately 147 species of swans, geese and ducks, classified in the order Anseriformes, family Anatidae. ... Families Many, see text A songbird or oscine is a bird belonging to the suborder Passeri of Passeriformes (ca. ... If you are looking for other meanings of the term, refer to Bird of prey (disambiguation). ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... This page lists living orders and families of birds, class Aves (for extinct birds, please see Extinct birds and Prehistoric birds). ... The following are the regional bird lists by continent. ... Bird ringing (also known as bird banding) is an aid to studying wild birds, by attaching a small individually numbered metal or plastic ring to their legs or wings, so that various aspects of the birds life can be studied by the ability to re-find the same individual... Ornithology (from the Greek ornis = bird and logos = word/science) is the branch of zoology concerned with the scientific study of birds. ... Birdwatching or birding is the observation and study of birds. ... Birdfeeding is the activity of feeding (and usually observing) wild birds. ... Aviculture is the practice of keeping and often breeding pet birds, generally companion parrots, and the culture that forms around it. ...

Contents

Threats to birds GA_googleFillSlot("encyclopedia_square");