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The Iberian Lynx is still around thanks to the hard work of conservationists © Nathan Ranc

Conservation action has prevented at least 28...

Thu, 10/09/2020
A new study shows just how effectively conservation action slows extinction rates, calculating that at least 28 bird and mammal species would have been lost since 1993 without intervention. The message is clear – with enough support, we can halt the extinction crisis.
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The Chattering Lory, a popular pet © Alan Tunnicliffe / Shutterstock

How pet owners are key to making the parrot trade...

Fri, 14/08/2020
New research reveals the social factors driving demand for parrots in Singapore. Lead author, Anuj Jain, discusses how international trade and domestic demand interact in what he refers to as the ‘ecosystem’ of the parrot trade.
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WorldwideSingapore
Eurasian Spoonbill © Ondrej Prosicky / Shutterstock

Why it’s important to love birds for more than...

Tue, 17/03/2020
We all know what our favourite bird looks like – but do you know why it’s evolved to look that way? Discover the amazing new project striving to build a stronger connection between people and nature – through the fascination of bird anatomy.
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WorldwideNetherlands
The Blue-throated Macaw is bouncing back from the brink of extinction thanks to a special reserve in Bolivia © Asociacion Armonia

New study: conservation action has reduced bird...

Tue, 07/01/2020
We’ve all heard of species brought back from the brink of extinction, but have you ever wondered how impactful conservation actually is? A new study shows that global conservation action has reduced the effective extinction rate of birds by an astonishing 40%. But is it all good news?
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Guam Rail © Andersen Air Force

Red List 2019: Guam Rail second bird to recover...

Tue, 10/12/2019
This year’s update to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species brings with it some fantastic conservation successes, including an almost unheard of incidence of a bird species coming back from extinction in the wild. But for other species, human threats are making it harder to stage a comeback.
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WorldwideBrazilGuamMauritius
Northern Cardinals © Steven Russell Smith Ohio / Shutterstock

How one man changed a Christmas tradition forever...

Fri, 29/11/2019
How did a continent go from shooting birds every Christmas to counting them? Discover the Audubon Christmas Bird Count – a holiday tradition that has transformed bird science.
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WorldwideCanadaUnited States of America

Is gaining over 1000 new bird species a problem...

Fri, 15/11/2019
Recent findings have shown that many birds formerly classified as one single species are actually separate species in their own right. But what do these >1,000 new species mean for bird conservation? BirdLife’s Ashley Simkins explains his new study.
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Worldwide
Evening Grosbeak © Jay McGowan, Macaulay Library, Cornell Lab of Ornithology

America’s 3 billion missing birds: where did they...

Thu, 19/09/2019
A new study shows that the USA and Canada have lost more than a quarter of their birds over the past 50 years. This massive reduction in abundance involves hundreds of species, from beloved backyard songbirds to long-distance migrants. So what’s going on?
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WorldwideCanadaUnited States of America
Insuring habitats like this Mesoamerican reef may become common in the future © Nick Mustoe

New study scans the horizon for future...

Mon, 10/06/2019
Our Chief Scientist Stuart Butchart explains a “horizon scan” of emerging conservation issues that may have big impacts in the future.
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Half a billion tweets are sent every day © Pixabay.com

Could social media help us save some of the world...

Thu, 23/05/2019
A ground-breaking new study analyses social media posts from visitors to key sites for nature across the world, providing insight into which sites are most popular, and highlighting opportunities and challenges for conserving them.
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Worldwide
Spot the difference: the Steppe Whimbrel is identified by its white underwings © Callan Cohen & Gary Allport

Migration route of secretive Steppe Whimbrel...

Mon, 29/04/2019
The Steppe Whimbrel is the rarest and least understood member of the highly threatened Numeniini tribe (curlews and godwits). But considering they were believed to be extinct 25 years ago, it’s unsurprising that we know so little about them. A newly published report is beginning to fill in the gaps in our knowledge.
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WorldwideMozambique
The Adelie Penguin was one of five species studied © Jane Younger

Which penguin species will be hardest hit by...

Tue, 11/12/2018
As ice caps melt and sea levels rise, the survival of penguins will depend on their ability to adapt and relocate to new habitats. Now, a new genetic study reveals that some species may be better at adjusting than others.
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WorldwideFalkland Islands / Malvinas
The araripe Manakin (Critically Endangered) can be found at only one site in Brazil © Ciro Albano

Nearly half of endangered species’ last refuges...

Tue, 13/11/2018
The Alliance for Zero Extinction has mapped 1,483 highly threatened species that are found only at a single site. But this major new assessment highlights the urgent need for better protection of these irreplaceable places.
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WorldwideBrazilColombiaPortugal

This month in science: albatross disease risk,...

Mon, 02/07/2018
We present the highlights of the latest issue of Bird Conservation International, our quarterly peer-reviewed journal promoting worldwide research and action for the conservation of birds and their habitats.
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WorldwideDenmarkSouth Korea
In 2017, the Liberian Greenbul was reclassified as an invalid species © HBW

Solving the world’s great bird mysteries

Thu, 03/05/2018
Keen-eyed readers will note that we ‘lost’ a species in the 2017 Red List update – the Liberian Greenbul is no longer recognised as a valid species by BirdLife. But mourn not its loss: this is simply the latest in a long line of taxonomic avian mysteries to have been solved...
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WorldwideBrazilColombiaEthiopiaLiberiaSomalia
The iconic sight of an Atlantic Puffin loading its beak with fish may soon be a thing of the past © Pixabay

7 birds you won’t believe are threatened with...

Wed, 25/04/2018
It’s a worrying trend: even birds that were once considered common and widespread are now plummeting towards extinction. Some of the species on this list will shock you.
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Worldwide
Celebrating the discovery at Middlepunt Wetland, South Africa © Niall Perrins

Rewrite the bird books: new breeding site found...

Sat, 17/02/2018
The White-winged Flufftail (Critically Endangered) has just been confirmed to be breeding in South Africa – not only Ethiopia as previously thought – thanks to a discovery by BirdLife South Africa’s hidden camera traps. This sheds new light on the bird’s conservation.
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WorldwideEthiopiaSouth Africa
L’équipe était abasourdie © Niall Perrins

Une nouvelle aire de reproduction a été...

Sat, 17/02/2018
Grâce à une découverte au moyen des pièges photographiques de BirdLife Afrique du sud, il a juste été confirmé que le Râle à miroir (gravement menacé d’extinction) se reproduit en Afrique du sud et pas seulement en Éthiopie comme on le croyait auparavant.
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AfricaEthiopiaSouth Africa