that the global extinction of the puffin and turtle dove is imminent. Four British bird species – the grebe, grebe, and pochard – have been added to the growing number of threatened birds, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) announced on Thursday. BirdLife International announced that eight British species are now at risk of extinction in its latest annual IUCN update. Surprisingly, another 14 British bird species is now considered ‘Near Threatened’. Any further decline in their status could lead to them being at high risk for extinction. IUCN Red List is a scientifically objective method of evaluating species’ risk of extinction. Image: birdlife.org. Martin Harper, Conservation Director at the RSPB, stated that today’s announcement signifies that the worldwide wave of extinction has reached our shores. The tropics have always had the highest number of threatened species, especially on smaller islands. The crisis now is starting to take an increasing toll on temperate areas too such as Europe. “Critically Endangered” is one level below “Facing Global Extinction”. African vultures are frequently poisoned and trapped because they face persecution. Common puffin, also called the Atlantic puffin (Fratercula arctica). This clown seabird is a popular symbol. There are a few themes in this year’s list of British bird changes. Lapwing birds: A constant and increasing threat to lapidary, knot, oystercatchers, curlew, godwits, and oystercatcher. Common eider: A decline in its status, joining the velvet scoter and long-tailed duck as species of concern. After rapid population declines, the gentle purr of turtle dove (Streptopelia Turtur) has been a calming sound that evokes summer. However, it is now becoming increasingly rare. Image: RSPB. Turtle Dove was once a common visitor in most parts of Europe including South-East England. Over the past 16 year, European populations have decreased by more than 30%. The status of the bird has changed from being Least Concern to becoming vulnerable. BirdLife International and the RSPB have been working together to discover the causes of the declining population in Europe and Britain. The UK’s turtle dove population has declined by more than 90%. since the 1970s. Common pochard (Aythya Ferina) can be described as a large diving duck. Atlantic Puffin: Although the global population of this species is in excess of a million, recent breeding failures in some important colonies have caused alarmingly large numbers. There has been a decline in the number of breeding birds. The Puffin population has declined in Iceland, Norway and the Faroe Islands, where they account for four-fifths of Europe’s total. The UK has seen a significant decline in Puffin populations, particularly on the Fair Isle and Shetland islands. However, the seabird seems to be doing well elsewhere in the country. Slavonian Grebe: This species is found in North America, Northern Asia, and Europe. The numbers of the waterbird have decreased significantly in North America where they make up most of their population. This species has been added to the Vulnerable List. Slovanian grives are restricted to the Scottish Highlands where they have decreased in numbers. But, the number of those who winter along Britain’s coastlines has increased. Pochard is a species that can be found in many parts of Asia and Europe. In Europe, its population has been declining rapidly in recent years. This deterioration, according to experts, is expected to continue. It has been listed as Vulnerable in all 50 countries. With its trilling call and golden ear tufts, the Slavonian grebe (Podiceps auritus), is undoubtedly the most beautiful of all the UK’s breeding grebes. In the UK, there has been a marked decline in nesting pochards and wintering birds. For the UK’s wading bird list, the addition of the bar-tailed godwit and lapwing to the New Threatened Species status is worrying. There are some good news, even though it is alarming. Seychelles’ warbler is making a comeback, which was once the most endangered songbird in the world. Its population dropped to 1968, from 26. 2014, reports indicated that there were two ,800. Status of the Seychelles warbler has been reduced to Near Threatened and Vulnerable. Gwyn Williams (RSPB Head of Reserves & Protected Areas), said that the assessment was a warning sign that nature may be in serious trouble. However, with proper funding, threatened species could recover. Video – What’s IUCN? Gwyn Williams, Head of Reserves and Protected Areas at RSPB said: “Today’s assessment is a warning that nature is in trouble. But with funding and the right conservation measures threatened species can recover.” Video – What is IUCN? The IUCN is a global environmental network that operates in over 160 nations. It gathers the most current knowledge about biodiversity and runs hundreds of conservation projects worldwide.
