Species Champions

SpeciesChampion

You can help pull a species at risk of extinction back from the brink, by becoming a Species Champion.

As BirdLife’s Preventing Extinctions Programme celebrates its 15-year anniversary, we sit down with Roger Safford, who co-ordinates the Programme, to ask what it takes to bring a species back from the brink.

We urgently need Species Champions for these birds

Fatu Hiva Monarch, BirdLife International, Species Champion

Fatu Hiva Monarch – Critically Endangered

Endemic to the island of Fatu Hiva, this is the most threatened species in French Polynesia and one of the rarest in the world. There are fewer than 20 individuals left, and only four breeding pairs. Living in an otherwise healthy habitat, this species has been decimated by invasive species such as the Black Rat and the Yellow Crazy Ant. Currently, this species has no Champion, and it urgently needs your support.

BirdLife international, Species Champions

Liben Lark – Critically Endangered

Found in Africa, and with just two known populations left, there are only a few tens of Liben Larks remaining. Over the years their main home, the Liben Plain in southern Ethiopia, has seen numerous human pressures in addition to drought and soil degradation leaving only a small fraction of the original grasslands. You could be the Species Champion for this charismatic little bird, one of the most ancient lark species still found today, and help give it a future.

Blue-eyed Ground-dove, BirdLife International, Species Champions

Blue-eyed Ground-dove – Critically Endangered

This beautiful dove remained unseen for 75 years before being rediscovered in 2015. There could be as few as 20 individuals left, in restricted portions of the Cerrado in Brazil. Work is underway to protect the species, grow eco-tourism in the area, and fund a captive-breeding programme. You could join our other Species Champion for this dove and give it the boost it needs to survive.

Hooded Grebe, BirdLife International, Species Champions

Hooded Grebe – Critically Endangered

When discovered in 1974, Hooded Grebes probably numbered 3,000-5,000 individuals, breeding in remote lakes in the spectacular plateaux of Patagonia. This species now numbers around 750, and when breeding they face various impacts from invasive American Mink and Kelp Gulls. Climate change and extreme weather have reduced the number of lakes available to them and sometimes prevented successful breeding. You could join our other Species Champions to support the colony guardians and other work to save the Grebe from extinction.

Become a Species Champion

Our Species Champions help fund action for specific globally threatened birds as well as the international science, conservation, policy, advocacy and communications that underpin our work to prevent bird extinctions. Species Champion support starts at £25,000/$30,000 per year for a minimum of three years.

Find out more about how to become a Species Champion by completing this form, or emailing [email protected]

BirdLife Species Champions

Peter Eerdmans

BirdLife Species Champions for Cerulean Paradise-flycatcher since May 2018

Richard Heaver

BirdLife Species Champion for Black-bellied Tern since March 2021 and Bengal Florican since April 2022

Steve Martin

BirdLife Species Champion for Giant and White-shouldered Ibises since October 2012

Ben Olewine

BirdLife Species Champion since August 2007 and for Hooded Grebe since May 2019

The Peter Smith Trust

BirdLife Species Champion since September 2008 and for Helmeted Hornbill since August 2018

Bruce Peterjohn

BirdLife Species Champion for Blue-eyed Ground-dove since March 2022

reissing family, species champions, birdlife

The Reissing Family

BirdLife Species Champion for Blue-billed Curassow 2008-2010, and for the Fatu Hiva Monarch since April 2023

Rockjumper Birding Tours

BirdLife Species Champions since 2007, and for White-winged Flufftail since March 2017

Steve and Britt Thal

BirdLife Species Champions for Hooded Grebe since May 2019

Swarovski Optik

BirdLife Species Champion for Sociable Lapwing since August 2008 and Canada Warbler since June 2013

Per Undeland

BirdLife Species Champion for Great Indian Bustard since January 2013

ZEISS

BirdLife Species Champion for Northern Bald Ibis July 2017-December 2020 and for Spotted Greenshank since 2021

Notable Supporters of the Species Champion programme

Anthony Baker
Preventing Extinctions supporter since January 2019
Cover Story
Preventing Extinctions supporter since August 2013
Arjan Dwarshuis
Preventing Extinctions supporter since October 2015
Peter Herkenrath
Preventing Extinctions supporter since August 2017
The Mackinnon Family
Preventing Extinctions supporters since December 2011

Partnership for International Birding
Preventing Extinctions supporter since August 2017
Colin Shields
Preventing Extinctions supporter since June 2008
The Webster Family
Preventing Extinctions supporter since June 2017
Noel & Hilary Woodhead
Preventing Extinctions supporter since June 2011

Previous Species Champions

American Birding Expo
BirdLife Species Champion supporting Hooded Grebe January 2015 – December 2017
Blue Sky Wildlife
BirdLife Species Champion January 2016-December 2020
Raymond Casey
BirdLife Species Champion in legacy March 2018 – December 2020
Charl van der Merwe Trust
BirdLife Species Champion for African Penguin
Cley Spy
BirdLife Species Champion January 2017-December 2019
Colombia Co
BirdLife Species Champion for Canada Warbler September 2017 – December 2020
The Dennis Family
BirdLife Species Champions for Lappet-faced Vulture June 2018 – December 2020
Far South Expeditions
BirdLife Species Champion September 2016-August 2018
HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco
BirdLife Species Champion for Northern Bald Ibis July 2009 – December 2020

Pamela Isdell
BirdLife Species Champion for African Penguin
My Claim Solved
BirdLife Species Champion March 2017-March 2018
Peter Oakley
BirdLife Species Champion July 2007 – July 2016
The Prentice Family
BirdLife Species Champions for Dwarf Olive Ibis and São Tomé Grosbeak, Fiscal and Giant Tree Frog May 2011 – December 2016
Nigel Simpson
BirdLife Species Champion for Black-breasted Puffleg
The Sullivan Family
BirdLife Species Champions for African vultures June 2018 – December 2020
Uttar Pradesh Bird Festival
BirdLife Species Champion for Indian Skimmer August 2016-August 2018
Viking
BirdLife Species Champion for Seychelles Paradise-flycatcher and Forest Owlet February 2010-February 2016

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