CHART: The world's most endangered passerine birds. In the News: Canada’s birds in decline. Almost half of Canada’s bird species are in serious decline, according to the first comprehensive report on the state of the country’s bird populations.
The spotted owl, just one of Canada’s declining bird species. The report, entitled “The State of Canada’s Birds”, summarises the status of bird populations across eight regions, including the boreal forests, prairies and oceans. Drawing on 40 years of data, it presents an overview of how Canada’s bird species are faring. Overall, Canadian bird populations have declined by 12% since the 1970s, with particularly serious declines in grassland birds, shorebirds and aerial insectivores, which catch their insect prey on the wing.
In the News: Dodging bullets – lead still a menace for the California condor. Despite years of costly conservation efforts, extremely rare California condors are still dying from lead poisoning as a result of scavenging on carcasses contaminated by lead bullets.
The California condor has an impressive wingspan of just under three metres Conservation and contamination The California condor, the largest and most threatened wild bird species in the United States, has been teetering on the brink of extinction for more than three decades, with just 22 individuals remaining in 1982. Endangered Species of the Week: Chatham Island black robin. Greater Adjutant.