The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) released a frightening report called, the Red List. However, the study had some good news for the future of some bird species threatened with extinction, reporting habitat conservation measures do and can work. BirdLife International conducted the research. The group discovered 1,227 species or 12% of birds might be wiped off the face of our blue planet.
The Red List records a whopping 192 bird species as Critically Endangered. The grim news is happening on every single continent, according to, Jeremy "Jez" Bird who is the Global Species Programme Officer for BirdLife.
For example, the Gorgeted Puffleg (pictured above) was only discovered by researchers in 2005 and is now on the Critically Endangered category.
Is there any hope? Some species such as the gorgeous Lear's Macaw is slowing gaining some ground with conservation measures. The goal to ensure the bird populations of the world are safe from habitat destruction, logging, pollution, illegal poaching and climate change is not impossible. Like the canary in the coal mine, if the birds disappear, our future is very dark indeed.
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