Eight bird species are first confirmed avian extinctions this decade
Eight bird species are first confirmed avian extinctions this decade
Most of the extinctions were caused by deforestation in South America, a new study of endangered birds shows
Patrick Barkham
@patrick_barkham
Tue 4 Sep 2018 08.50 EDT
Spix’s macaw, a brilliant blue species of Brazilian parrot that starred in the children’s animation Rio, has become extinct this century, according to a new assessment of endangered birds.
The macaw is one of eight species, including the poo-uli, the Pernambuco pygmy-owl and the cryptic treehunter, that can be added to the growing list of confirmed or highly likely extinctions, according to a new statistical analysis by BirdLife International.
Historically, most bird extinctions have been small-island species vulnerable to hunting or invasive species but five of these new extinctions have occurred in South America and are attributed by scientists to deforestation.
Stuart Butchart, BirdLife International’s chief scientist, said the new study highlighted that an extinction crisis was now unfolding on large continents, driven by human habitat destruction.
More:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/sep/04/first-eight-bird-extinctions-of-the-21st-century-confirmed
Images of the incredibly beautiful Spix's Macaw:
https://tinyurl.com/y7yqwrht
Science:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/122859365
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