Sav i n g t h e wo r ld ’ s m os t

t h r e at e n e d b i r ds
The BirdLife Preventing Extinctions Programme

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 An overview What is the problem?
of the BirdLife A total of 1,313 bird species are
Preventing threatened with extinction according to
BirdLife International’s assessment for
Extinctions the 2012 IUCN Red List.

Programme Of these, 197 are considered Critically

Endangered and are on the brink of
extinction.
Over 1,300 bird species are
threatened with extinction, These species have tiny populations and
and a total of 197 Critically distributions and/or are rapidly declining
owing to unsustainable agriculture,
Endangered bird species are invasive alien species, logging, hunting
on the brink of extinction and and other threats.
face a suite of human-driven
threats. However, the actions Five species have deteriorated in status so
severely since 2008 that they now qualify
needed to help them recover as Critically Endangered, and improved
are well understood. The knowledge and revised taxonomy have
BirdLife Preventing Extinctions added another 28 species to the Critically
Endangered list in the last five years.
Programme was launched
in 2008 in response to this
crisis. In its first five years,
the programme has already What are the solutions?
begun to turn the tide, The actions needed to help save most
taking action for 40% of all threatened species are well understood,
threatened species. although many species also require
research to enhance recovery efforts.

The most urgent actions are to protect

and effectively manage Important
Bird and Biodiversity Areas, control
or eradicate invasive alien species,
restore habitat, control hunting , raise
awareness, and, in some cases, establish
captive breeding and reintroduction
programmes.

There is good evidence that such actions

Top: Leonardo F. Freitas; Flickr
Bottom: Caroline Thomas; RSPB-images.com
P1 Top: M Koshkin; Bottom: Vivian Fu
can bring species back from the brink of
extinction, with a suite of species that
were once reduced to tiny populations
now well on the road to recovery.

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 What has BirdLife done?
The BirdLife Preventing Extinctions Programme was launched in 2008 in
response to this crisis.

Nearly all 121 BirdLife Partners have taken action to improve the fortunes of
threatened bird species in their country.

46 Species Guardians have been appointed to take action for 59 Critically

Endangered and 11 Endangered species. These individuals or organisations are
leading or coordinating efforts to save particular highly threatened species.

At least 537 threatened species (40%), including 67% of Critically Endangered

species with known populations, have been the focus of conservation action
by the BirdLife Partnership.

Actions have focused on protecting and improving management of Important

Bird and Biodiversity Areas and wider habitats (72% of species), strengthening
protection of species (35%), and preventing or controlling hunting (17%),
supported by education and awareness-raising (60%).

Most species have also received targeted research to enhance direct interventions
(62%), and monitoring to better understand their status and trends (65%).

What has BirdLife achieved?

Of 115 Critically Endangered species with known populations for which
BirdLife has taken action since 2008, 80% are judged to have benefited.

Of these, 20% are judged to have improved in status and 63% are likely to be
declining less rapidly. For example. For example, habitat restoration has led to
an increase in the population size of Azores Bullfinch.

For a sample of 55 species, public awareness has increased for 93%,

conservation capacity enhanced for 89% and threats reduced or stabilised
for 80%. For example, veterinary use of the drug diclofenac has been banned
in India, Nepal and Pakistan, benefiting several vulture species for which it
has caused catastrophic declines, while Tahiti Monarch has benefited from
control of invasive alien rats.

The extent and condition of suitable habitat increased for 39% of species,
e.g. encroaching scrub has been cleared from grasslands supporting Liben
Lark in Ethiopia.

Protected areas were established or strengthened for 35% of species, e.g.

lobbying by Species Guardians helped lead to the designation of a State
Park in Brazil protecting Restinga Antwren, and to protection of the last area 1
of state-owned land for Grenada Dove.

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 Some birds are
Least Concern
Which species are closest to extinction? 7,677 (77%)

on the brink of BirdLife International classifies 1,313 species as ‘threatened’ with

extinction (i.e. in the categories of Critically Endangered, Endangered Near Threatened

extinction
880 (9%)
or Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List), representing 13% of living Threatened
bird species worldwide. Of these, 197 are considered Critically 1,313 (13%)
Endangered and are therefore at extremely high risk of extinction in
One in eight of the world’s the wild because they have an extremely small and fragmented or
birds (13%) is threatened with declining population or range (66%), are declining extremely rapidly Data
Deficient
extinction, while 197 species (20%), or have a stable or increasing but tiny population (34%; some 60 (1%)
species qualify for multiple reasons).
are considered Critically
Endangered. These species Vulnerable
727 (55%)
face an extremely high risk of Where are they found?
extinction in the immediate
A total of 136 countries and territories support at least one Critically
future. Most are restricted to a Endangered species. Brazil has the largest number, with 22. Nearly Critically
single country, but a few half (42%) of Critically Endangered bird species are each restricted to Endangered
a single country, while some broader-ranging and migrant species 197 (15%) Endangered
are widespread. Some 389 (30%)
occur in several, meaning that many countries share responsibility for
countries hold particularly conserving these highly threatened species.
large numbers.

Number of Critically Endangered species per country

Only 25 breeding pairs of Reunion Cuckooshrikes

survive, owing to predation by invasive
alien rats and cats. (F. Theron; SEOR) Russian Federation 7

United States 19 Nepal China 9

5 7 8 Myanmar
Pakistan Bangladesh 8 Laos
Mexico 9 4
5 Vietnam Philippines
India 15 10 9
Thailand 7 15 5
Colombia 13 Cambodia
7
Northern
Malaysia 7 Mariana
6 Ecuador 8 Islands
22
French Polynesia Peru 8 Indonesia 19
Brazil

Chile 5
6
Argentina 6
New
Number of Critically Endangered species Zealand

1 2 3-4 5-10 11-15 16-22

2

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 Most
n
Which are the rarest birds in the world?

threatened Some Critically Endangered species now have tiny populations and are on the very brink of extinction.
Others are so rare that precise population estimates are unavailable, but probably number fewer than 50
species are mature individuals, e.g. Chinese Crested Tern (China), Sâo Tomé Fiscal (Sâo Tomé e Príncipe) and Cozumel
Thrasher (Mexico).
declining, while
Data
ficient
some await Fifteen Critically Endangered species with the smallest population estimates

0 (1%)
discovery Trend since 2008 No. mature individuals

Oahu Alauahio USA ? 1

1-7
200
The remaining populations of 27
Black Stilt New Zealand
many Critically Endangered
species are tiny. Three- Sulu Hornbill Philippines 27

quarters are declining, while Fatuhiva Monarch French Polynesia 33

a small proportion have
California Condor USA, Mexico 44
stable or increasing trends
owing to conservation efforts. Puerto Rican Puerto Rico 33-47
Amazon
A suite of species have not 20-49
Madagascar Pochard Madagascar
been recorded for many years
30-49
and searches are needed to Chinese Crested Tern China

confirm they still survive. Réunion Réunion 50

Cuckooshrike
Cebu Flowerpecker Philippines 60-70
With just 27 mature individuals, Black Stilt is one
of the rarest birds in the world. Mangrove Finch Ecuador 40-80
(Dave Murray; worldsrarestbirds.com)
Cerulean Indonesia 13-90

Polynesian French Polynesia 70-130

Ground-dove
Cherry-throated Brazil 30-200
Tanager

Niceforo’s Wren Colombia 30-200

How many species are declining? Population trends for

Critically Endangered species
Most Critically Endangered species (74%) have declining populations,
while some have stable or increasing trends owing to conservation Unknown
efforts. For a fifth of species (44) there is currently no known population 29 (14.7%)
(often because there have been no recent searches), and 15 of these Increasing
may already be Extinct or Extinct in the Wild, but this has not yet been 11 (5.6%)
confirmed and further searches are required. For a full audit of Critically Stable
Endangered species, see www.birdlife.org/datazone/info/CRtable. 11 (5.6%)
Decreasing 3
146 (74.1%)

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 Human Which are the worst threats?

pressures on A broad suite of threats impact Critically Endangered species, but unsustainable agriculture threatens
more species than any other factor. More species have been ‘uplisted’ to Critically Endangered (33) in the
threatened last five years than have been ‘downlisted’ to lower categories of threat (21). This largely reflects improved
knowledge, taxonomic revisions and genuine status changes that occurred before 2008. However, five
species are species have deteriorated in status since 2008 sufficiently to qualify now as Critically Endangered (including
Regent Honeyeater and Zapata Rail), while none have yet improved sufficiently since 2008 to qualify for a
escalating lower category of extinction risk.

Habitat shifting & alteration

Critically Endangered species Crops
Livestock
farming Droughts
are impacted by a range of 38
Other impacts 8
3
threats, in particular through Aquaculture
Temperature
extremes 3 72
115
unsustainable agriculture, 3 Climate change
deliberate or accidental & severe
weather
spreading of invasive alien War 18 Storms &
Agriculture 86 flooding
1 Work 19
species, logging, hunting 123 (44%)
Wood & pulp (62%) 26
and trapping. plantations 11 Recreational
(13%) 7 activities Fire & fire
suppression
Mammal Micro-organism/diseases Human
disturbance 20 Utility &
Bird (10%) 1 service lines
23 12
77 (6%) 12
20 Roads
Transport & & railroads
Fish service corridors
Problematic Invasive 3
species/ Renewal
Unsustainable hunting is one of the five major species 2 energy
diseases 26
threats to the world’s birds. 35 108 (13%)
(55%) Threats to197
(Conservation India) Critically
4 Energy production 25
4 Other Endangered Species & mining
29 Mining
16 Reptile Residential & & quarrying
Plant commercial
Insect development Tourism &
10 recreation
areas
Fisheries 39
9 5 (20%)
(3%) 14
10
Gathering
Dams & water terrestrial plants Commercial
management & industrial
25
areas
Pollution
22 15 Housing &
Agricultural & urban areas
Air-borne pollutants 1 (11%) forestry effluents
Light pollution 1 6 Hunting
Impact 2 Oil spills &
Domestic & industrial effluents Logging & trapping
urban waste water 74 64
High/medium (38%) (32%)
4
Low/unknown

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 We know What actions are needed, and do they work?

which solutions Critically Endangered species require a combination of several types of conservation responses.
Encouragingly, there is good evidence that if appropriate actions are implemented, underpinned by sound
are needed science, adequate resources and political will, species can recover – even from the brink of extinction.
Mauritius Parakeet and Rarotonga Monarch (from the Cook Islands) are classic examples of species
that were once reduced to tiny numbers of individuals but which were saved from extinction by timely
Priority conservation actions conservation action.
have been identified for all
International
threatened species. These
Leglisation
include site protection and Captive National
7 Policies and
Harvest/trade regulations
management, control of breeding management 6
19 30 Private sector
invasive species, habitat 27
9 3 standards and codes
restoration, awareness- Species recovery Sub-national 5 45 Compliance
raising and, for some species, 23% and enforcement
32 60 Law and
reintroduction. Governments, 31% policy 16 3 International
Species
non-governmental management 6
organisations, academic Species 10 National
re-introduction 32
institutions, individuals and Sub-national
businesses all have a role
to play in addressing the
Site protection Education and awareness
ongoing extinction crisis.
Formal education
Land/water 5
Sociable Lapwing requires a suite of conservation protection
Actions needed 81 Training
actions on its breeding grounds, migration routes 91
for 197 Critically 41% 8
and in areas used during the non-breeding season. Endangered
(M Koshkin) Species
101
51% $
76
Habitat 20
protection

13 Awareness and
communications
7%
Land/water
management Livelihood, economic
119 and other incentives
60%
25
Habitat restoration
81

50
Site management
Invasive species
eradication/control 5

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 The BirdLife Preventing extinctions and
conserving threatened species
Preventing Since the BirdLife Preventing Extinctions Programme
No action
808 (60%)

Extinctions was launched in 2008, at least 537 threatened

species (40%), including 115 Critically Endangered
Programme species (67% of those with known populations),
have been the focus of conservation action through
is turning the programme. For most species, actions have
Received action
537 (40%)

the tide ...

focused on protection and management of sites
and habitats, supported by education, awareness,
research and monitoring. The majority of species
have received direct conservation interventions
BirdLife responded to the
(just 7% have been the focus of research or
extinction crisis by launching monitoring alone).
its Preventing Extinctions Proportion of threatened species receiving
Programme in 2008. Since Many other species have benefited from broader
action since 2008 through the BirdLife
conservation action by BirdLife, which has helped
then, BirdLife Partners and to protect and safeguard Important Bird and
Preventing Extinctions Programme
Species Guardians have taken Biodiversity Areas and wider habitats, reduce
action for over 500 threatened threats, and raise awareness of the importance of
species. For example, of 115 biodiversity conservation. Targeted interventions
for the most urgent cases have been implemented
Critically Endangered species by 46 Species Guardians who have been appointed
that BirdLife has taken action to take action for 59 Critically Endangered and 11
for since 2008, 80% are judged Endangered species.
to have directly benefited.

From site protection to control of hunting, BirdLife Actions undertaken for 537 threatened species by BirdLife International 2008–2013
is tackling conservation issues for threatened birds
worldwide. (BirdLife International) 80

70

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40

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20

10

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PEP Report.indd 8 04/06/2013 21:06:51

 80

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60

50

% species
... and bringing
40
What has BirdLife achieved?
30
species back Of 115 Critically Endangered species with known populations that BirdLife has taken action for since
20
2008, 80% benefited. Of these, 20% are judged to have improved in status and 63% are likely to be
from the brink declining
10 less rapidly. A detailed analysis for a sample of 55 species shows that for the vast majority,
public awareness was increased, conservation capacity enhanced and threats reduced or stabilised.
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Impact of actions implemented for Critically Endangered species by BirdLife E International 2008–2013 (based on a sample of 55 species)
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threatened species. For SAP
example, of 115 Critically 60
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BirdLife has taken action for 40
since 2008, 80% are judged to
have directly benefited. 20

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Change in status for 115 Critically

Endangered species BirdLife
has taken action for Not yet Benefited
since 2008 benefited directly
directly from action
23 (20%) 92 (80%)

Declined less Same status

rapidly but would have
58 (63%) been worse
without action
16 (17%)
Improved in
status
18 (20%)
7

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 Action on
the ground:
Species
Guardians
make a
difference
Species Guardians are
individuals or organisations
appointed through the “The Preventing Extinctions Programme has “Representing Aquasis as the Species Guardian for
undoubtedly strengthened our success in Araripe Manakin gives me the distinct feeling of
Preventing Extinctions obtaining international funding for our project. In being an internationally recognised steward for
Programme to lead action addition, the programme supported a workshop endangered birds. The support from the Preventing
on the ground for highly that was key to the Hooded Grebe conservation Extinctions Programme allowed our conservation
programme, and funded a major part of the team to establish a headquarters close to the
threatened species. Their fieldwork during the last breeding season.” Araripe Plateau, and since then, our interaction with
passion, commitment, local the community has intensified so much that many
knowledge and experience Hernan Casañas people call me soldadinho, the common name of
make them the best qualified Hooded Grebe Project Leader, working with the species!”
Aves Argentina (BirdLife in Argentina and
people to save particular Species Guardian for Hooded Grebe) Weber Girão
species from extinction. Aquasis: BirdLife Species Guardian for
Araripe Manakin

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 “In 2010, vast forest-fires destroyed the only “With the assistance of the Species Champion, “My work on Grenada Dove has benefited from
breeding site for Zino’s Petrel. Besides the Viking Optical, we are continuing to empower being part of the BirdLife Preventing Extinctions
destruction of nests, almost 30 birds were the people of La Digue island, the stronghold Programme. I’m proud to call myself a Species
found dead. The funding provided by the of the Seychelles Paradise-flycatcher, by Guardian.”
BirdLife Preventing Extinctions Programme supporting the first community-based species
and many generous donations allowed the stakeholder group in Seychelles, as well as a Bonnie Rusk
creation of artificial nests and restoration school club dedicated to the flycatcher.” Species Guardian for Grenada Dove
of vegetation. These actions were crucial to
ensure the long-term survival of one of the Nirmal Shah
rarest seabirds in Europe.” Nature Seychelles (BirdLife in Seychelles
and Species Guardian for Seychelles
Joana Domingues Paradise-flycatcher)
SPEA (BirdLife in Portugal)

A total of 46 individuals and organisations have been appointed as Species Guardians by the BirdLife International Partnership, and through their extraordinary efforts they are
bringing highly threatened species back from the brink of extinction: Aquasis, Armonia, Associação dos Biólogos Santomenses, Aves Argentina, Aves Uruguay, Aves y Conservacion,
Bahamas National Trust, Biodiversity and Nature Conservation Association, Bird Conservation Nepal, Bird Conservation Society of Thailand, Bombay Natural History Society, Bonnie
Rusk (Grenada Dove Conservation Program), Cebu Biodiversity Conservation Foundation, Chinese Wild Bird Federation, Asosiacion Ecosystemas Andinos (ECOAN), Ethiopian Wildlife
and Natural History Society, Fundación Jocotoco, Fundación Proyecto Paria, General Commission for Al Badia Management and Development (Syria), Haribon Foundation, Houssein
Rayaleh (Djibouti Nature), Isabel Gómez, Ishaka Said (Comoros Conservation Project), Ivailo Angelov, Jasson John, Kry Masphal, Société d’Ornithologie de Polynésie (MANU), Mareqeti
Viti (Nature Fiji), Mauritius Wildlife Foundation, Michael Brooke (University of Cambridge), Mwangi Githiru, Nature Seychelles, Norbert Cordeiro, Ocotea, Oikonos, Paul Donald (Royal
Society for the Protection of Birds), Pingo D’água, ProAves, Pronatura, SAVE Brasil, Société Calédonienne d’Ornithologie, Seng Kim Hout, Sociedad Española de Ornitología, La Société
d’Etudes Ornithologiques de La Réunion, Sociedad Ornitológica Puertorriqueña Inc (SOPI) and Portuguese Society for the Study of Birds (SPEA).
P8–9 side bar: D. Fouillot; SEOR. Grebe: Diego Punta Fernandez; Manakin: Andy & Gill Swash; worldwildlifeimages.com; Petrel: SPEA; Paradise-flycatcher: James Lowen; pbase.com/james_lowen, Dove: Anthony Jeremiah 9

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 Examples of success

Araripe This species, first discovered in 1998, has now been recorded
at three locations on the north-eastern slope of the Chapada
Manakin do Araripe, south Ceará, Brazil, where a population of about
800 individuals survives within 28 km² of remaining suitable
habitat. Its known range is extremely small and subject
Key achievement: to continuing pressures from agriculture and recreational
The species’ habitat has development. In particular, the moist forest that it favours is
being cleared for crops.
been formally protected and
its conservation has been Aquasis, the BirdLife Species Guardian, is working to conserve
integrated into the species. It participates in key local forums and councils to
land-use planning. ensure that Araripe Manakin is included in discussions about
natural resource use and planning. The Araripe National Forest is
classified as a Federal Sustainable Use Conservation Unit and has
been protected since July 2000. Aquasis is now a member of the
Advisory Board for the Araripe National Forest.

Work continues to create a new Conservation Unit that

would result in full legal protection of the total known area
of occurrence of the species. The federal government is
expected soon to approve the formal proposal for the species’
conservation plan.

Species Champion: Sir David Attenborough

Restinga This species has a highly restricted range around Cabo Frio in Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, where is occurs
in coastal scrub vegetation. Pingo D’água, the BirdLife Species Guardian, working with SAVE Brasil (BirdLife
Antwren in Brazil), has campaigned for the protection of the species’ habitat. In April 2011, the Governor of Rio de
Janeiro State signed documents to create the state park of Costa do Sol, protecting 10,000 hectares and
encompassing almost all of the Restinga Antwren’s distribution. The population is still estimated at fewer
Key achievement: than 1,000 individuals, but the new protection and a better understanding of the species status led to
A State Park of BirdLife downlisting its status on the IUCN Red List from Critically Endangered to Endangered in 2012.
10,000 hectares has been New research has yielded important new information regarding the home range size, foraging behaviour
established to protect almost and population size. Introduced marmosets which had spread into the area and were threatening the bird’s
the entire global distribution nesting success are being removed under a project led by the State University of Rio de Janeiro.
of the species. Representatives of local state and municipal
bodies are now collaborating on
marmoset management in the Restinga
Antwren’s range.

An education and awareness-raising

campaign has generated considerable
media coverage, while thousands of people
have seen an exhibition and banners
conveying messages about the unique
biodiversity of the restinga habitat.
Top: Ciro Albano; wordsrarestbirds.com
10 Bottom: Mauricio Vecchi Species Champion: Dr Urs-Peter Stäuble

PEP Report.indd 12 6/5/2013 2:53:45 PM

 Examples of success

Puerto Rican With an estimated population of 1,400–2,000

individuals, Puerto Rican Nightjar is only found
Nightjar on Puerto Rico. SOPI (BirdLife in Puerto Rico and
Species Guardian for the nightjar) working with
Mississippi State University have carried out a
Key Achievement: detailed study of the distribution of this species.
Intensive surveys have They found that the species is more widely
distributed than previously thought, which lead
increased the known to BirdLife lowering the species’ IUCN Red List
distribution of the species, category to Endangered.
leading to its downlisting to a
lower category on the The species was recorded over a broad region
of southern Puerto Rico, but several sites where
IUCN Red List. it was detected have not been incorporated in
any of the major conservation planning efforts
on the island. Unprotected areas in Puerto
Rico are experiencing increasing deforestation
from residential, industrial and recreational
development, causing fragmentation, loss and
degradation of remaining habitat. SOPI are
now supporting work with private landowners,
government agencies and other NGOs to
ensure the continuity and integrity of the
nightjar’s habitat. Species Champion: urgently required

Hooded Grebe Hooded Grebe breeds on a small number of lakes in the interior of Santa Cruz, extreme south-west
Argentina, and winters on estuaries on the Atlantic coast of Santa Cruz. The main threats are nest predation
by an increasing population of Kelp Gulls, predation of adults by introduced American Mink, and predation
Key Achievement: and competition for food resources from alien Rainbow Trout.
Nesting colonies have been
Conservation action is now underway to address
protected from predators, and these threats, led by Aves Argentinas (BirdLife in
a National Park to protect the Argentina and Species Guardian for the grebe), and
species has been declared. a local organisation, Ambiente Sur, who are working
together to prevent the extinction of Hooded Grebe.
They have carried out surveys that recorded over
700 individuals, and collected data on introduced
mink. “Colony Guardians” have been established to
work with local communities. These are local people
assigned to protect nests from predators, and to
collect breeding data. Their efforts have improved
survival rates at a number of colonies.

Most importantly, a National Park encompassing

much of the grebe’s breeding habitat has been
declared, and a law passed to ban introduction of
trout into the lakes.
Top: Michael J Morel; worldsrarestbirds.com
Bottom: Diego Punta Fernandez Species Champion: urgently required 11

PEP Report.indd 13 04/06/2013 21:07:14

 Examples of success

African Once numbering in the millions, the South African population

Penguin
Key Achievement:
Research has demonstrated
the benefit of restricting
commercial fishing around
breeding colonies.
of African Penguin has declined to fewer than 20,000 pairs. It
is at risk from a number of threats including predation by
seals, oil spills and food shortages. The latter is most pressing:
penguins eat mainly sardines and anchovies, which have
shifted their distribution from the west to the south coast,
further from penguin breeding colonies. The fish are also the
target of the commercial purse-seine fishing industry.
With support from a Species Champion, BirdLife South Africa
is tackling these issues. Research is underway to investigate
the effect of preventing fishing in waters around penguin
breeding colonies on penguin foraging and breeding
success. Preliminary results show that this may benefit
penguins as they do not have to swim as far to find food.
Satellite transmitters are being used to track penguins
outside the breeding season, to see where they go to fatten
up before and after moulting. The results will help to identify
the threats faced by the species during these periods.

Species Champion: Charl van der Merwe Trust

Liben Lark
Key Achievement:
The support of local
people has been won for
conservation efforts to
manage the Liben Plain for
people and larks.
This species is restricted to highly threatened grasslands on the Liben plateau, Ethiopia, and in an area near
the Somaliland border to the north-east. In 2009, BirdLife uplisted Liben Lark to Critically Endangered on the
IUCN Red List, with warnings that, without immediate action, it was likely to become continental Africa’s first
recorded bird extinction. Money raised by the British Birdwatching Fair has supported the Ethiopian Wildlife
and Natural History Society (BirdLife in Ethiopia and Species Guardian for Liben Lark) to attempt to restore
the lark’s habitat. The project has been working with the agro-pastoralist community that depends on the
Liben Plain for its livelihoods, in order to win their support for conservation efforts.
Twenty-five singing male larks were counted on transects
in November 2012, including five in areas recently cleared
of scrub that had encroached the grassland, where none
had been recorded since regular counts began in 2007.
The total population is now estimated to number 130–390
individuals, all confined to an area of just 30–36 km2.

Work is underway to clear encroaching scrub, establish

non-grazing areas, prevent further conversion of
grassland on the plain, and to build conservation
capacity. A committee with broad representation has
been established to manage the restoration of the
Liben Plain, while multi-stakeholder workshops have
led to agreement to oppose any further agricultural
expansion and work with conservation organisations to
preserve pastoralism.
Top: BirdLife South Africa
12 Bottom: Greg Davies Species Champion: British Birdwatching Fair

PEP Report.indd 14 04/06/2013 21:07:15

 Examples of success

Azores This species is restricted to the island of São

Miguel, where the first population census, in
Bullfinch 1989, suggested a population of around 100
pairs. In response, a five-year EU-funded LIFE
project was launched in 2003 coordinated by
Key Achievement: SPEA (BirdLife in Portugal and Species Guardian
Conservation efforts including for Azores Bullfinch). Since then, around 230 ha of
laurel forest have been restored. Orchards have
habitat restoration have been created at lower altitudes to improve winter
substantially increased the food availability and to increase the interest of
population size of farmers in this alternative livelihood activity. The
project has also provided the equivalent of full
the species. time employment for 25 local people annually,
and added an estimated €335,000 to the regional
GDP each year.

In 2008, a comprehensive population census was

carried out; the population was estimated to have grown to 775 individuals and its range was found to
be greater than previously thought. In light of these extremely positive findings, BirdLife downlisted the
species to Endangered in 2010.

Species Champion: Birdwatch Magazine

Asian vultures Four species of South Asia’s vultures have declined by up to 99.9% over recent decades, driven by the
toxic effects of a veterinary drug, diclofenac, which kills vultures that feed on the carcasses of recently
treated cattle. These vulture species were on the edge of extinction but a partnership including BNHS and
Key Achievement: BCN (BirdLife in India and Nepal respectively, and Species Guardians) and RSPB (BirdLife in the UK), has
Precipitous population been successful in halting the decline, and is now trying to reverse it.
declines on the Indian
Intensive advocacy efforts have been successful
subcontinent have now in persuading governments in India, Nepal and
been stabilised, and captive Pakistan to ban veterinary use of diclofenac. Efforts
breeding populations have to reverse the decline in vulture populations are
being coordinated by a consortium of national
been established. conservation organisations and multi-national
vulture experts, under the Saving Asia’s Vultures
from Extinction (SAVE) initiative. A key action has
been the establishment of several captive breeding
centres across the subcontinent, where birds are
fed diclofenac-free meat, and at least some are now
breeding successfully.

The latest surveys show that populations of at least

three of the Critically Endangered vulture species
appear to have stabilised over the last few years in
both India and Nepal.
Top: Leo Boon; worldsrarest.com
Bottom: Ganesh H Shankar; worldsrarestbirds.com Species Champion: urgently required 13

PEP Report.indd 15 04/06/2013 21:07:20

 Examples of success

Spoon-billed Spoon-billed Sandpiper has a broad distribution

encompassing breeding grounds in the Russian Far
Sandpiper East, and migration routes and wintering areas in
South-East and South Asia. In 2011, the first steps to
establish a conservation breeding programme for
Key Achievement: this species were successfully taken, led by Wildfowl
BirdLife Partners and Species and Wetlands Trust and BirdsRussia. At the other end
of the birds’ flyway, in Myanmar and Bangladesh,
Guardians have taken conservation teams are stopping the killing of Spoon-
coordinated action for billed Sandpipers by helping hunters to set up new
this species along its entire sustainable businesses.
migration route. Along the flyway, BirdLife Partners are linking
up under the coordination of the Spoon-billed
Sandpiper Task Force to effect change. For example,
BirdLife’s China Programme, the Hong Kong
Birdwatching Society (BirdLife in Hong Kong) and
the Wild Bird Society of Shanghai have been working at one site, Rudong, thanks to a grant from Disney’s
Friends for Change. Conservation education at local schools and awareness-raising events have helped
to increase understanding among local communities of the importance of coastal wetlands for migratory
birds and people.

Species Champions: WildSounds, Heritage Expeditions, Dutch Birding, VBN and Disney Friends
for Change

Sociable This species breeds in central Asia and migrates to the Middle East, Africa and India during the non-
breeding season. Research on the breeding grounds has shed light on the species’ population size, habitat
Lapwing use, distribution and nesting success. Satellite-tracking devices have provided information on where
and how these birds migrate, so that BirdLife Species Guardians and Partners can monitor numbers on
the ground, identify threats such as illegal hunting, and take whatever immediate action is necessary to
Key Achievement: protect the birds. The Sociable Lapwing Project is a superb example of the way the BirdLife International
Satellite-tracking has Partnership coordinates its activities: tags fitted by researchers working for ACBK (BirdLife in Kazakhstan)
transmit data to RSPB scientists (BirdLife in the UK) who then guide field teams such as those from Doga
identified the migration Dernegi (BirdLife in Turkey) straight to the location of migrating birds in the field. This is a truly international
routes of this species, in turn conservation effort!
helping to determine and
Progress has been made in protecting Important
mitigate the threats the
Bird and Biodiversity Areas supporting the species
species faces. in Kazakhstan, while education and awareness-
raising has been undertaken with local people in
India and with hunters in Iraq.

A dedicated website – The Amazing Journey

– www.birdlife.org/sociable-lapwing – follows
the project and communicates results to a wide
audience, stimulating additional awareness and
‘citizen science’ support and participation.
Top: James Gilroy
14 Bottom: Ghulam Rasool Mughal; worldsrarestbirds.com Species Champions: Swarovski Optik and RSPB

PEP Report.indd 16 04/06/2013 21:07:24

 Examples of success

Carnaby’s Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo has

a large distribution covering
Black-cockatoo many different vegetation types
in south-west Australia. With
support from the Australian
Key Achievement: Government, BirdLife Australia
Remnant habitats for this has been working with local
communities, landholders and
species have been protected land managers to secure the
and restored through working protection and conservation of the
with private landholders. species and its habitat. This has
involved community engagement
programs and education, along
with provision of support to
private landholders to preserve
and restore priority remnant
vegetation types.

Baseline data-collection and nest-monitoring are being implemented. Since 2004, a volunteer team has
repaired over 150 damaged or degraded nesting trees, a simple and inexpensive way to increase the
chances of breeding.

Species Champion: urgently required

Kokako BirdLife Partner, Forest & Bird, has been working for many years alongside the New Zealand Government’s
Department of Conservation to save the Kokako on New Zealand’s North Island. This species is highly
threatened by invasive alien predators.
Key Achievement:
Several Kokako pairs are now breeding successfully in the ‘Ark in the Park’, a fenceless reserve in a council-
Populations have been
owned rainforest west of Auckland city managed by Forest & Bird. The key to success has been extremely
establishment on predator- efficient predator control. Ship rats have been reduced to 1% of their normal population level, and
free islands, while mainland possums, stoats and feral cats
populations have grown have almost been eliminated.
following control of Birds have been introduced to
introduced mammals. offshore islands, and individuals
have been translocated to both
new sites and remnant
populations on the mainland, in all
cases in association with predator-
control. These measures, along
with the establishment of the
population in the Ark in the Park,
will hopefully safeguard the future
of the Kokako.

Species Champion: urgently

Top: Don Hadden; worldsrarestbirds.com
Bottom: David Hallett required 15

PEP Report.indd 17 04/06/2013 21:07:32

 Preventing
extinctions:
Species
Champions
make it
possible
Species Champions are
companies, organisations and
individuals who provide the
resources to make preventing
extinctions possible. BirdLife is
grateful to all its supporters.
“Conservation is important
to both us and our customers
and The BirdLife Preventing
Extinctions Programme is the
perfect opportunity for us to
become involved.”
Tim Strivens, Viking
“I believe every keen birder
who is fortunate enough to
have the financial means to
travel around the world to
see Critically Endangered
species should seriously
consider becoming a
Species Champion.”
Dr Urs Peter Stäuble
16
PEP Report.indd 18
BirdLife International is extremely grateful to all the Species Champions, Project Supporters and Trusts and Foundations who
have joined us to help promote and fund the BirdLife Preventing Extinctions Programme and its various species recovery
projects during the last five years.
We thank the British Birdwatching Fair (our Founding Global Programme Sponsor) and our BirdLife Species Champions: an
extraordinary, growing, international community of companies, organisations and individuals who have committed to support
the BirdLife Preventing Extinctions Programme for a minimum of three years.
At a higher level, Species Champions support a particular Critically Endangered species by providing significant funding to help
its recovery. They are linked to that species and we recognise them for making a specific contribution to its conservation and
their additional support to the overall programme. Our other Species Champions support the whole suite of species projects.
Their funding is pooled, primarily to provide resources used for the conservation of all globally threatened species prioritised
by the BirdLife International Partnership.
Species Champions
Birdfair
Airports Company Angry Birds Arbutus Images Bird Holidays Birdwatch Magazine BTO Digital Spring
South Africa
Disney Friends for Disney Worldwide Dutch Birding Eskom Gardenature Giant Ibis Transport Heritage Expeditions
Change Conservation Fund Association
Mohammed bin Zayed Paignton Zoo Petra Philippines Prince Albert II of Rare Bird Alert Rare Bird Alert Belgium
Species Conservation Fund Environmental Park Diamonds Department of Tourism Monaco Foundation
Rio Tinto Rockjumper Birding Tours RSPB Save Our Species Fund Sveriges Ornitologiska
Förening
Swarovski Optik TheBirdersReport.com
The World’s Rarest... Viking Optical Vogelbescherming Nederland Wader Quest WANT Expeditions
WildSounds Winchester College
HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco, Sir David Attenborough, The Blackwood Family, Nigel Bowen-Morris, The Ellis Family, Chris Goodwin, Martin Hale,
Joan M Harvey, Erik Hirschfeld (Rare Birds Yearbook), Helena Jefferson, Ed Keeble, Ceri Levy,The MacKinnon Family, Steve Martin, Rory McCann,
Mike McGrady, Charlie Moores, Peter Oakley, The Olewine Family, Palabora Mining Company, The Prentice Family, The Reissing Family, 
Michael Schmitz, Colin Shields, Peter Smith, Urs-Peter Stäuble, Klemens Steiof, Terry Townshend, Per Undeland, Noel & Hilary Woodhead
We also thank our many extremely generous Programme Supporters whose individual donations also make a significant and
growing contribution to our work:
Major Supporters
Charities Advisory Trust, Charl van der Merwe Trust, Critical Ecosystems Partnership Fund, David & Lucile Packard Foundation,
James Gibson Charitable Trust, Macquarie Group Foundation, The Peter Smith Trust, Taiwan International Collaboration and
Development Fund, Tasso Leventis Foundation, The Tolkien Trust
04/06/2013 21:07:48
 PEP Supporters
African Bird Club, Gleb Antonov, Richard Amos, Aquila Media, Arbutus Images, Marcia Arland, Stephen Ashby, John S Austin, David Bakewell, David Bell, Birding Navarra, Birdstack.
com, Raymond Bloch, Lambert Blokhuis, Roman Bodinek, Olivier Boissier, Ian Bradshaw, David Brown, Edward Carroll, Steve Chastell, Joseph J Childs, Sam Chipote, Rohan Clarke,
Anthony J Collerton, Mark Constantine, David Czaplak, Robert Crossman, Stephen Daly, Kevin Davis, Bertus De Lange, Steve Dudley, Stephen Dungey, Andrew Dobson, Charles
Duncan, Martin Eccles, Stephen D Eccles, Norman Ellstrand, Phillip Erven, Melanie Farmer, Elizabeth J Fenton, Mathis Feuersenge, Field Guides Incorporated, Raymond Finn, Stewart
Ford, Julian E Francis, Geoff Robinson Photography, Anthony Gale, Richard Gillam, Angelika Göser, Vicky Graham, Kari Haataja, Richard E Hale, Frank D Hamilton, Justin Hart, Brenton
J Head, Elfrida Heath, Otto Heeg, Peter Hendley, Agneta Heuman, Erik Hirschfeld, Nigel D Hewitt, Jeff Hoppes, Chris Hughes, Adrienne Hulf, John Humphreys, S M Hunt, Stephen
Hunter, in focus, Ingrid Isaksen, Thierry Jansen, Daniel Jenkins-Jones, Catherine Johnson, Richard Johnson, Sonia Jupp, Kalikora Books, Niall Keogh, Wolfgang Koschel, Michael Barry
Lancaster, Richard R Langley, Elvet Lewis, Antti J Lind, Konrad Lindemann, Svend Linderstrom, James Lowther, Ulrich Mahler, Raimundo Martin, Marjorie Mann, Bruce McCay, David
Melzack, Basil C Morson, Neil Multack, Natural History Book Service, Bjorn Norden, Des Norden, SJ O’Byrne, Jan Oldebring, Guy R Oxborough, Alan J Parfitt, Johnny Parks, Andy
Paterson, Stephen Peel, Permian, Jean Ploetscher, Porzana Ltd, Prion Ltd, Gareth D Rees, Stuart Reeves, Darren Riley, John M Robertson, Beryl G Roth, Charles Rowney, Royal Navy
Birdwatching Society, Steve Rutledge, Safari West Inc, Gavin Salisbury, Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society, Alberto Savijn, Hans Semeins, Dubi Shapiro, Sam Shaw, Mike Shurmer,
Rick & Elis Simpson, Roderic N Simpson, Sociedad Espanola de Ornitologia, Jennifer T Spring-Smyth, Hugh Stancliffe, Sarah Stevens, Mathew Storey, Eva Streit, Peter Sziemer,
10000birds.com, Conservation Club, Fabian Teves, Stephen Thal, E A Thomas, Elaine Thomas, Philip J Tizzard, Hazel Underwood, Ewan Urquhart, Miriam Van den Bosch, Lex Van
Groningen, Marcy Valley, Carlos Vilhena, Nigel Voaden, Franziska Vogel, Judith Webster, David Weeshoff, John White, Andrew O Wilkie, Duncan Wilson, David Wingate, Hugo G
Wood Homer, theworldsrarestbirds.com, Lisa Yntema, Michael R Zeiss, Han Zevenhuisen
In addition, we thank the many organisations and individuals who support the preventing extinctions work undertaken by individual BirdLife Partners.

Get involved as a Champion or a Supporter

To find out more about how to become a BirdLife Species Champion or a Preventing Extinctions Programme supporter please contact us today:
Send an email to: species.champions@birdlife.org. Call us on: +44 1223 277318. Or write to us at: BirdLife Species Champions, BirdLife International, Wellbrook Court,
Girton Road, Cambridge, CB3 0NA, UK.
You can keep up with our progress on our website at www.birdlife.org/extinction

BirdLife International is the world’s largest nature conservation
Partnership. Together we are 121 BirdLife Partners worldwide—one per
country and territory—and growing, with almost 11 million supporters,
7,000 local conservation groups and 7,400 staff.
BirdLife’s vision is a world rich in biodiversity, where people and nature
live in harmony. We are driven by our belief that local people, working for
nature in their own places but connected nationally and internationally
through our global Partnership, are the key to sustaining all life on this
planet. This unique local-to-global approach delivers high impact and
long-term conservation for the benefit of nature and people.
BirdLife is widely recognised as the world leader in bird conservation.
Rigorous science informed by practical feedback from projects on
the ground in important sites and habitats enables us to implement
About this report: the material in this report is drawn from the State of the world’s birds, an
extensive searchable database at www.birdlife.org/sowb – please visit this site for further
information and examples.
Compilers: Stuart Butchart, Martin Fowlie, Tris Allinson and Lynda Donaldson.
Additional contributors: Veronica Anadon, Mark Balman, Leon Bennun, Mark O’Brien,
Simba Chan, Rob Clay, Mike Crosby, Richard Grimmett, Sharif Jbour, Jim Lawrence, Arne
Lesterhuis, Ian May, Kariuki Ndanganga, Alison Stattersfield, Andy Symes, Joe Taylor, Claire
Thompson, Willem Van Den Bossche and David Wege.
Acknowledgements: Many of the data underlying the analyses included here were
provided by the BirdLife Partnership and a wider expert network, including the IUCN/
SSC bird specialist groups. BirdLife thanks the photographers and The World’s Rarest for
permission to use several of the images included here, and Peter Creed and the staff at
NatureBureau for design and layout. BirdLife is particularly grateful to the BirdLife Species
Champions for support to the Preventing Extinctions Programme.
Recommended citation: BirdLife International (2013) Saving the world’s most threatened
birds: the BirdLife Preventing Extinctions Programme. Cambridge, UK: BirdLife International.

successful conservation programmes for birds and all of nature.
For more information, please contact:
BirdLife International, Wellbrook Court, Girton Road, Cambridge CB3 0NA, UK.
Tel: +44 1223 277318 Fax: +44 1223 277200
Email: birdlife@birdlife.org Internet: www.birdlife.org
BirdLife International is a UK-registered charity, no. 1042125
© 2013 BirdLife International
ISBN 978-0-946888-86-3
British Library-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Designed and produced by NatureBureau, www.naturebureau.co.uk Printed on Revive 50
Silk, an FSC certified paper made with 50% recycled post-consumer fibre
Cover picture: White-winged Guan (Roger Ahlman; worldsrarestbirds.com); Polynesian
Ground-dove (Pete Morris); Lear’s Macaw (Andy & Gill Swash; worldwildlifeimages.com);
Juan Fernandez Firecrown (Kevin D Mack; worldsrarestbirds.com); Araripe Manakin (Ciro
Albano; worldsrarestbirds.com); Chinese Crested Tern (Chen Lin; worldsrarestbirds.com);
Wandering Albatross (Craig Evans Photography Flickr).
The presentation of material in this book and the geographical designations employed do not imply the expression or any opinion
whatsoever on the part of BirdLife International concerning the legal status of any country, territory of area, or, concerning the delimitation
of its frontiers or boundaries.

PEP Report.indd 19 04/06/2013 21:07:48

 Together we are BirdLife International
Partnership for nature and people www.birdlife.org

PEP Report.indd 20 04/06/2013 21:07:53