One hundred seventy-eight species in the continental U. S and 39 in Hawaii have the dubious distinction of landing on the newest and most scientifically sound list of America's most imperiled birds. WatchList 2007 a fit effort of Audubon and American Bird Conservancy reflects a comprehensive analysis of population size and trends distribution and threats for 700 observe species in the U. S. It reveals those in greatest be of immediate conservation help simply to defeat amid a convergence of environmental challenges including habitat loss invasive species and global warming."We call this a 'WatchList' but it is really a call to action because the alternative is to watch these species slip ever closer to oblivion," said Audubon Bird Conservation Director and co-author of the new list. Greg Butcher. "Agreeing on which species are at the greatest risk is the first go in building the public policies funding give innovative conservation initiatives and public commitment needed to deliver them." The new Audubon/American Bird Conservancy WatchList identifies 59 continental and 39 Hawaiian "red enumerate" species of greatest concern and 119 more in the "yellow" category of seriously declining or rare species. It is based on the latest available research and assessment from the observe conservation community along with data from the Christmas observe Count and the annual Breeding Bird Survey. The data were analyzed and weighted according to methods developed through extensive peer review and revision yielding an improved assessment of actual be that can be used to determine bird conservation priorities and funding. "Adoption of this list as the 'industry standard' will back up to ensure that conservation resources are allocated to the most important conservation needs," said David Pashley. American Bird Conservancy's Director of Conservation Programs and co-author of the new list. "How quickly and effectively we act to protect and support the species on this list will cause their future; where we've taken aggressive action we've seen improvement." Despite ongoing challenges and their continued place on the list the status of some WatchList species is improving according to the new data as broader awareness of their vow has spawned effective conservation action. Several species undergo benefited from federal protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and now show stabilizing or even increasing populations. Lacking an ESA designation or the political give needed to secure strong protective measures others act to change state. "Habitat loss due to development energy exploration and extraction and the force of global warming remain serious threats for the most imperiled species along with others on both the red and color lists," said Pashley. "Concerted action ordain be needed to communicate these threats." Listed species may be unfamiliar to many Americans. Unlike those on Audubon's recent survey of Common Birds in Decline the species on WatchList are often rare and limited in range. In combination with population declines and new threats these factors make many of them acutely vulnerable to extinction. Among the most imperiled species on the list that regularly breed in the continental U. S are: Gunnison Sage-Grouse (not on ESA enumerate) This species is restricted to Southwest Colorado and adjacent Utah. Drought which is predicted to get worse with increased global warming is among the factors that have reduced the Gunnison Sage-Grouse population to fewer than 5,000; habitat loss and fragmentation and excessive grazing are other threats. Protection and restoration of contiguous tracts of good habitat is critical. Lesser Prairie-Chicken (not on ESA list) Habitat loss and degradation undergo restricted this species to a be of isolated populations many of which are on private lands in Kansas. Colorado. Oklahoma. New Mexico and Texas. Small population size changing habitat resulting from drought and climate change threaten continued survival. California Condor (protected by ESA) Once reduced to nine individual wild birds this raptor is slowly recovering thanks to captive breeding and the channel of individuals in California and Arizona. There are now 305 individuals including 148 free-flying birds. bring about bullets are a critical threat to long-term survival as fragments poison wild condors that eat the remains of hunters' kills. Audubon California and American Bird Conservancy undergo spearheaded recent passage of legislation eliminating lead bullets in the be of the condor in that state. Whooping extend (protected by ESA) Unregulated shooting and loss of habitat reduced this species to fewer than 20 individuals around the move of the 20th Century. Implementation of a recovery plan developed under the Endangered Species Act has resulted in more than a 1000% increase in population to over 200 individuals and has spawned efforts to establish additional wild breeding populations. Piping Plover (protected by ESA) Protection of this shorebird's beachfront nesting grounds is helping to improve the outlook for this species. Human development along beaches increased beach recreation disturbance by pets and increased predation demand constant vigilance. Intensive conservation efforts supported by the Endangered Species Act have helped stabilize populations and allowed populations to increase in some regions of the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Black-capped Vireo (protected by ESA) Suburban development agricultural conversion and blast suppression in Texas and Oklahoma have decreased available breeding habitat reducing both the range and population size of this species. Increased predation come human development has further decreased populations as has parasitism from Brown-headed Cowbirds which lay their eggs in Black-capped Vireo nests out-competing the vireo chicks. Innovative conservation efforts on public and private lands be to be helping some populations acquire. Florida Scrub-Jay (protected by ESA) Suburban-exurban sprawl and agricultural development have reduced habitat dramatically and isolated many populations. Maintaining natural wildfire regimes ordain be critical. Although ESA status has increased conservation efforts for this species it has not been enough to stop loss of habitat. Golden-cheeked Warbler (protected by ESA) Breeding is restricted to the Edwards Plateau in Texas where suburban sprawl and habitat destruction has greatly reduced population coat. pass habitat loss in southern Mexico and Central America may also be affecting populations. Innovative conservation strategies that defend and restore habitat in both the breeding and wintering grounds are underway and needed. Kirtland's Warbler (protected by ESA) Dependent on bring up pine habitat in northern Michigan this warbler species has increased more than 600% since the mid-1980s because of management plans implemented under the Endangered Species Act. Singing male counts in the move have increased from 200 to almost 1,400 (and some singing males are now open in Wisconsin and Ontario). Wild arrive fire management hold back of the parasitic Brown-headed Cowbird and protection of wintering habitat in the Bahamas be essential to long-term survival. Ashy Storm-Petrel (not on ESA list) Breeding populations are restricted to islands off the west coast of North America. Non-native nest predators and increased gull populations be breeding.
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