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Why bother about birds?

Why bother about birds?. Bird numbers are declining around the globe, and getting worse. Luckily, we know it costs relatively little to save and protect nature, and we know it can be done. In the future, the costs will be far greater. Bird conservation is affordable… and it works. .

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Why bother about birds?

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  1. Why bother about birds? Bird numbers are declining around the globe, and getting worse. Luckily, we know it costs relatively little to save and protect nature, and we know it can be done. In the future, the costs will be far greater. Bird conservation is affordable… and it works. “The status of the world’s birds is declining” Ottawa Canada June 19-22 2013 State of the World’s Birds www.birdlife.org/datazone/sowb BirdLife International World Congress Partnerships for Nature and People

  2. Birds help us understand the natural world We know more about birds than any other animal group. Their decline reflects a deteriorating global environment, affecting all life – including people. Birds are an accurate and easy-to-read environmental barometer that lets us see the pressures we put on the world’s biodiversity. “Birds are excellent indicators and a popular window on the world” Ottawa Canada June 19-22 2013 State of the World’s Birds www.birdlife.org/datazone/sowb BirdLife International World Congress Partnerships for Nature and People

  3. The status of the world’s birds is deteriorating “The UN now uses BirdLife’s Red List Index to monitor sustainability” Birds are declining, but some groups such as seabirds are declining faster than others. Ottawa Canada June 19-22 2013 State of the World’s Birds www.birdlife.org/datazone/sowb BirdLife International World Congress Partnerships for Nature and People

  4. More and more bird species are at risk of extinction “One in eight [bird] species are threatened with extinction” 197 bird species are classified as Critically Endangered, the highest threat level. Ottawa Canada June 19-22 2013 State of the World’s Birds www.birdlife.org/datazone/sowb BirdLife International World Congress Partnerships for Nature and People

  5. A range of threats is driving declines in globally threatened birds “Current agricultural practices are the greatest threat to bird species” Ottawa Canada June 19-22 2013 State of the World’s Birds www.birdlife.org/datazone/sowb BirdLife International World Congress Partnerships for Nature and People

  6. Many bird species, including common ones, are declining In Europe, data over 30 years shows that common birds are also in decline. Some groups – such as those found on farmland – are declining faster than others. “Many governments now use common bird trends to track environmental sustainability” Ottawa Canada June 19-22 2013 State of the World’s Birds www.birdlife.org/datazone/sowb BirdLife International World Congress Partnerships for Nature and People

  7. Some sites are very important for birds and wildlife We know where the most important nature sites are. We call these Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas – IBAs for short. “BirdLife has identified more than 12,000 IBAs on land and at sea” Ottawa Canada June 19-22 2013 State of the World’s Birds www.birdlife.org/datazone/sowb BirdLife International World Congress Partnerships for Nature and People

  8. IBAs guide protection in the marine realm IBAs affect how we manage marine resources such as fish stocks “Marine IBAs have been instrumental in identifying Protected Areas in the oceans” Ottawa Canada June 19-22 2013 State of the World’s Birds www.birdlife.org/datazone/sowb BirdLife International World Congress Partnerships for Nature and People

  9. Many IBAs are in an unfavourable state— “IBAs in Danger” The BirdLife Partnership identified over 300 IBAs worldwide that need effective protection and management. “IBA monitoring by BirdLife Partners has helped identify IBAs in Danger” Ottawa Canada June 19-22 2013 State of the World’s Birds www.birdlife.org/datazone/sowb BirdLife International World Congress Partnerships for Nature and People

  10. What will it cost to save nature and protect it? • How much will it cost: • To save all threatened species from extinction? • To protect and manage Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas? “BirdLife data show that US$80 billion per year is needed for global nature protection” Ottawa Canada June 19-22 2013 State of the World’s Birds www.birdlife.org/datazone/sowb BirdLife International World Congress Partnerships for Nature and People

  11. Investing in conservation is essential… and affordable “This expense is an investment not a bill. The alternative will be far more costly” Ottawa Canada June 19-22 2013 State of the World’s Birds www.birdlife.org/datazone/sowb BirdLife International World Congress Partnerships for Nature and People

  12. Effective conservation is affordable and it works “BirdLife Partners have taken action for over 537 threatened species (40%), since 2008” Ottawa Canada June 19-22 2013 State of the World’s Birds www.birdlife.org/datazone/sowb BirdLife International World Congress Partnerships for Nature and People

  13. Threatened species can be saved Habitat restoration and the removal of invasive plant species by the BirdLife Partner in Portugal has helped save the Azores Bullfinch from extinction. In Brazil, the BirdLife Partner and others have successfully lobbied for a new state park to safeguard the future of the RestingaAntwren “Over ten years, action by BirdLife Partners and others prevented the extinction of 16 bird species” Ottawa Canada June 19-22 2013 State of the World’s Birds www.birdlife.org/datazone/sowb BirdLife International World Congress Partnerships for Nature and People

  14. BirdLife Australia State of Australia’s birds Samantha Vine Head of Conservation

  15. State of Australia’s Birds – the bad news • We’ve lost 2% of our avifauna –27 taxa are listed as Extinct • 20 birds are Critically Endangered • 60 Endangered, 68 Vulnerable, 63 are Near Threatened • Things are getting worse. The last assessment (2010) showed that 39 taxa have been uplisted to a more threatened category because they are faring worse than they were a decade ago. • This includes four taxa that are new to the Critically Endangered category.

  16. State of Australia’s Birds – some good news • Despite escalating threats we’ve been successful at recovering threatened species where adequate funding and effort has been applied. • Conservation works! And it is affordable. • Even for our most imperilled Critically Endangered species we estimate imminent extinction could be prevented for an average Au$380,000 per species. • In a report released last month we estimate the cost of managing the 396 birds most at risk from new and existing threats including climate change at Au $18.8 million per year – Au$47,700 per year for each taxon

  17. Bird Conservation in Australia • BirdLife Australia plays a key role in threatened species conservation, through • monitoring and assessment of the status of Australian birds, • developing and lobbying government for funds to implement bird recovery programs • facilitating effective community & individual efforts for threatened species recovery … and lots more.

  18. The Hooded PloverAustralia’s most threatened beach-nesting bird • Hooded Plovers love sandy beaches with big swells & sandunes • ‘Hoodies’ are threatened by people, their dogs & 4WDs. They are very sensitive to disturbance & will leave their eggs unattended. • BirdLife Australia project: monitoring and protection of the Hooded Plover • The chance of successfully raising chicks has improved from 2% to 55% Photo: Glenn Ehmke

  19. Plains Wanderer protection in Australia’s farming country • Small grassland bird, distributed sparsely throughout eastern Australia • 1980’s : discovery of its decline, due to intensification of agriculture & grazing practices • Acquisition of agricultural land for plains wanderer habitat has greatly helped the species. • Some management changes have also been applied to agricultural properties, with less success. • These efforts are greatly helping the survival of the species.

  20. Glossy Black cockatoo (Kangaroo Island) • Reduced from a population of many thousands, to only 150 on one island • Research in the 1990’s identified Brush-tailed possums taking eggs & chicks from nests • Nest sites protected with corrugated iron “collars” to stop possums climbing trees • Cockatoo population more than doubled in the past 15 years • Down-listing possible by 2020 Photo: www.kinrm.sa.gov.au

  21. Citizen Science: Working Together to Assess the State of Canada’s Birds Dick Cannings Senior Project Biologist, Bird Studies Canada

  22. Report Overview • Canada’s first comprehensive report on the health of bird populations • What can changes in bird populations tell us about our environment? • How is human activity affecting bird populations? www.stateofcanadasbirds.org The State of Canada’s Birds 2012 was prepared by the North American Bird Conservation Initiative (NABCI) Canada – a collaboration of government and non-governmental organizations. It highlights the need for urgent action for bird conservation.

  23. Changes in Canada’s Birds Some groups of species doing well (33% of species) On average Canadian bird populations have declined by 12% Other groups of species declining (44% of species) 70 species at some risk of extirpation

  24. Raptors (hawks, eagles, falcons) 70% average increase Populations of many species had crashed by the 1960s, largely as a result of pesticides such as DDT Banning of DDT has allowed many species to recover – and made the environment healthier for people Birds of Prey are recovering Peregrine Falcon Bald Eagle

  25. Waterfowl (ducks, geese, swans) – 45% average increase since 1970 Reflects success of conservation and management actions from governments, environmental organizations, private landowners, and hunters Effective regulation of hunting began in 1917, spurred on by dramatic declines in populations of many species owing to intense levels of commercial exploitation Investment in wetland habitat conservation has been key since then Waterfowl are doing well

  26. Aerial Insectivores (birds that catch insects in flight, such as swallows, swifts, and flycatchers) – 64% decline Causes uncertain: changes in insect populations? loss of habitat? climate change? Aerial Insectivores in decline Barn Swallow Common Nighthawk Olive-sided Flycatcher

  27. Grassland birds in trouble  Grassland birds – 45% decline • Some species have declined more than 90% • Loss of breeding and winter habitat • Conversion of native grassland • Agricultural intensification – replacing pasture with grain Eastern Meadowlark Bobolink McCown’s Longspur

  28. Disappearing shorebirds • Shorebirds (sandpipers, plovers) • 42% decline overall • Largest declines for Arctic-nesting species (>60%) • Amazing migrations • Dependency on stop-over sites • Susceptibility to disturbance • Unknown contribution of climate change Panama Bay Whimbrel

  29. Migrate farther = Worse off Migrant Decline USA 5% Central America and Caribbean  15% South America  60% Year-round Residents Increase Canada (year-round residents)  50% Olive-sided Flycatcher Olive-sidedFlycatcher Wood Thrush ArcticTern

  30. A path forward • We know the priorities for conservation research and action • We know the solutions: • Investment in Partnerships • Protect Important Bird Areas • Flyways approach for key species • Respect and support traditional economies • Focus research where needed • Apply precautionary principle • So . . . Let’s do it!

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