New BirdLife report: 1 in 5 bird species in Europe is threatened by extinction - BirdLife International

Today, BirdLife International released the European Red List of Birds 2021. The Red List reviews the regional extinction risk of 544 bird species in over 50 countries and territories in Europe and follows the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria applied at regional level. Each species extinction risk is evaluated from ‘Least Concern’ to ‘Extinct’.

The European Red List of Birds 2021 published today

The data were collected by thousands of experts and volunteers from all over Europe. This is the fourth assessment done by BirdLife International, with previous editions released in 1994, 2004, and 2015. It is launched in the week that the UN Convention on Biological Diversity is discussing a new plan to tackle the crisis facing the world’s wildlife.

Because of how sensitive birds are to any changes in their environment, they are a perfect indicator to understand how our planet is doing. All life on this planet is connected, so when birds are in danger, by extension, we’re all in danger.

Some of the main findings of the study include:

1. 1 out of 5 bird species in Europe is threatened or Near Threatened by extinction
2. 1 out of 3 bird species in Europe has declined over the last few decades
3. Seabirds, wildfowl, waders, and raptors are the most threatened and fastest declining groups of birds in Europe
4. Marine habitats, as well as farmlands, wetlands and grasslands are the habitats with most threatened and/or declining species
5. The majority of Larks, Buntings and Shrikes are now declining; other major taxonomic groups with significant declines observed are ducks and waders
6. 71 species (13%) are Threatened (CR, EN, VU) in Europe
7. Another 35 species (6%) are Near Threatened
8. 5 species are still Regionally Extinct

    

More on:

• extinction
• Birdlife International
• Red List
• European Red List of Birds

Posted On: 14/10/2021