Endangered bird list continues to grow

The latest updated release of the International Union for Conversation of Nature’s Red List shows that even though conservation efforts have been made in many countries, there is an increasing amount of critically endangered birds.

Currently the Red List shows that 1,227 birds are on the endangered list, making up about 12% of the entire bird species on earth.

The report identified that logging, invasive species, and agriculture are still the main threats to bird species.

At the top of the list is the gorgeted puffleg, a type of hummingbird that is a new addition to the list.

Its home in the Pinche mountain range is currently being destroyed due to cocoa farming taking over the cloud forests.

Also on the list is the Galapagos, best known for its inclusion in Darwin’s The Origin of Species, due to a parasitic fly that is slowly killing off the species.

The Chairman of the IUCN, Simon Stuart, issued a statement that says the increase in endangered species is a major cause of concern in the face of conversation issues, and is a clear indication more needs to be done.

There are nine new bird species on the endangered status list and there are 192 birds in total that make up the critically endangered list.

Grazing animals and the avian flu are also major threats to the world’s bird species.

The report does show that in some places where conservation efforts are being made, bird species are recovering in high numbers, which shows more effort should be placed into recovery issues.