Island Conservation
Some of world’s rarest birds rebound on Pacific islands cleared of invasive predators Five remote Pacific islands are once again safe havens for four of our world’s rarest bird species following the success of one of the most ambitious island restoration projects ever implemented. Just two years after ambitious efforts by a team of international […]
Conservationists are working on a new approach to protect the Endangered Norfolk Island Green Parrot by relocating chicks to a nearby, invasive species-free island. Conservation and innovation go hand in hand, because sometimes, all familiar approaches to saving a species are inadequate. When tried and true tactics don’t work, the only thing left to do is […]
Seabirds are a valued part of French Polynesia’s cultural history, but invasive species have led to population declines…a problem that Island Conservation and our partners are working to correct. The Islands of French Polynesia have historically supported a wide variety of seabird species with more than 28 species native to the region. Seabirds are crucial for […]
Conservation intervention leads to downlisting of Montserrat Oriole. Sometimes events that are out of human control, such as natural disasters, can damage an ecosystem and threaten native wildlife. This was the case for the Montserrat Oriole (Icterus oberi) in the 1990’s, but years of conservation efforts and some luck have aided this species’ recovery. On Montserrat Island […]
The Critically Endangered Chinese Crested Tern was recently discovered breeding on an island in South Korea for the first time ever. What happens when researchers who are performing a routine survey find a rare bird that has never before been seen in the region? This was the case recently in South Korea while two researchers […]
New research explores the connection between geographical distribution and the colors of bird feathers. Birds have reasons for looking the way they do–and we have modest understandings of these. Blending in can offer protection, while standing out can promote reproduction. Gloger’s rule states that birds living in humid climates tend to have darker pigmentation. Darker feathers […]
On the São Miguel Island in the Azores Archipelago, Portugal, the Azores Bullfinch and other native flora and fauna are threatened by invasive plants. Fortunately, there is still hope. Island species around the world are threatened by invasive plants, which alter the balance of specialized island ecosystems. When a non-native plant enters the ecosystem and begins […]
Researchers discover that the Red-Bellied Pitta; once believed a single species of bird is actually thirteen unique species. Question: What do thirteen brightly colored bird species have in common? Answer: Not much beyond their vibrant feathers. This is a big surprise to researchers who have long believed that the Red-bellied Pitta was a single species that […]
BirdLife International and other conservation organizations collaborate to identify, map, monitor, and conserve Key Biodiversity Areas around the world. A new partnership has formed to identify the regions on Earth most in need of conservation. The Key Biodiversity Area partnership plans to identify and map important regions for conservation around the world. The partnership will […]
Conservationists celebrate the successful breeding season of the Tāiko, a Critically Endangered seabird native to New Zealand. One of New Zealand’s most endangered birds just had a very successful breeding season! The Chatham Island Tāiko, also known as the Magenta Petrel, is a Critically Endangered seabird and was thought to be extinct for over 100 […]