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Conservationists cry foul over birds

Calling for concrete action to save endangered species of birds, the head of a leading international bird-protection organization yesterday said that 12 percent of all bird species face extinction within the next century.

"At the present rates of extinction," said Michael Rands, chief executive of Bird Life International, "As much as 12 percent of all bird species would be gone in the next 100 years."

Bird Life International is a non-profit, UK-based organization, dedicated to the protection of international bird life.

Rands made the remarks at the International E-Birds Awards Ceremony and Conservation Conference, which was sponsored by Bird Life International, Wild Bird Federation Taiwan (WBFT) and the National Taiwan Science Education Center.

The event, along with other international activities and competitions, is part of an international ecological campaign, aimed at raising awareness about endangered bird species.

Winners of childrens' art competitions on the theme of bird conservation from eight global regions received their prizes at the awards ceremony yesterday.

"The extinction crisis is worsening," Rands said. "It is in fact increasing in an exponential rate."

Research carried out by Bird Life International last year showed that one in eight (or 12 percent) of all bird species face extinction over the next 100 years. The total amounts to approximately 1,200 bird species.

Of these, Rands added, "182 bird species -- categorized as `critical' -- have only an estimated 50 percent chance of surviving over the next 10 years and another 320 are `endangered' and 681 are `vulnerable'."

Rands also said that during the past 200 years, about 100 bird species have already become extinct.

"Habitat loss and degradation are the two major causes of endangerment to birds," said Fang Wei-horng (方偉宏), Vice President of the Wild Bird Federation Taiwan. "Other causes include direct exploitation such as hunting and trapping."

"The statistics on endangered and threatened birds are worrying," Fang added. "We need to carry out conservation work urgently if we are to save the birds."

Among the strategies mentioned at the conference yesterday to enhance the prospects for survival of endangered species were activities to promote public awareness on bird-related issues, monitoring of the birds' habitats and increased research on issues affecting the birds.

Rands emphasized the importance of collecting "good data" on endangered birds, in order to identify the species that face extinction and prioritize work to save those that face the gravest threat.

"Good data can also help us understand and identify the key causes of endangerment of birds, so that we can take appropriate action," he said.

According to the WBFT, Taiwan's black-faced spoonbill, pheasant-tailed jacana and riukiu scops owl are among those classified as endangered bird species.
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