News latest science

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?
Read more
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.
Read more
Worldwide
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.
Read more
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.
Read more
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.
Read more
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.
Read more
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.
Read more
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...
Read more
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.
Read more
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.
Read more
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.
Read more
AfricaEthiopiaSouth Africa
The Helmeted Hornbill (Critically Endangered) is one of innumerable bird species that will benefit from the Program © Bjorn Olesen

Satellite tracking app empowers communities to...

Mon, 22/01/2018
This year we’re launching an innovative new programme using satellite technology and a mobile phone app to help locals monitor their forests. The Asia-Pacific Forest Governance Project, led by BirdLife and funded by the European Union, aims to involve the community in conservation and policy-making
Read more
WorldwideIndonesiaMalaysiaPapua New GuineaPhilippines
The Indian Vulture is one of three vulture species reassessed in a new paper released today © Sudipto Roy

New study: India may have even fewer vultures...

Tue, 19/12/2017
India’s Critically Endangered vulture populations seemed to be stabilising, but a new study reveals that numbers may be fewer than we thought. Although vulture-killing livestock drug diclofenac has been banned, other drugs, equally fatal to vultures, have not. This is thought to be the main cause.
Read more
WorldwideIndia
A conservation focus group trials PRISM at Mbeliling IBA, Indonesia © Iain Dickson

Is your conservation having an impact? New...

Thu, 09/11/2017
Carrying out conservation work on the ground is vital, but evaluating the impact it's having is just as important. Yesterday, things got easier for conservationists everywhere with the launch of PRISM, an effective, easy-to-use and completely free evaluation toolkit.
Read more
WorldwideIndonesia
Greater Sage Grouse has a high concern score © May Haga

New report shows alarming state of North-American...

Thu, 02/06/2016
Since the seventies, millions of North American birds have disappeared and a third of species are now of conservation concern, a new report reveals.
Read more
AmericasCanadaMexicoUnited States of America