Seabird species face extinction in remote UK islands

They are more exotic than the gulls, gannets and terns of Britain's home coastlines, but many of the fascinating and charismatic species of birds on the remote shores of UK overseas territories are now close to extinction. In a report to the government, the RSPB (BirdLife in the UK) warns 33 species of birds, including penguins, parrots and albatrosses, are now critically endangered across the remnants of the empire. And that means we have a duty to fulfil...  more...

British Birds – but far away by Richard Porter

Henderson, one of the Pitcairn Islands, is home to Endangered Henderson Petrel and many of the world’s gadfly petrels. Together with its endemic plants, snails and invertebrates, not to mention its turtle population, it must surely be as important as Britain & Ireland in terms of global biodiversity. Yet conservation bodies are desperately trying to raise funds to eradicate the Polynesian Rats that could seriously affect much of the island’s unique wildlife, and potentially cause species extinctions...  more...

Chan, S., Crosby, M. J., Islam M. Z. and Tordoff, A. W. (2004) Important Bird Areas in Asia: Key Sites for Conservation. BirdLife International.

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