What Are Some Types of Endangered Birds?
The 2010 number of endangered species of animals from all across the globe stands at 1,240 birds. It increases when you add the other animals like mammals and marine life. These are animals that face extinction if we continue on the current course of self-destruction under the banner of development and progress.
There are different types of endangered birds, just as there different classifications for other endangered species of animals. Usually they are typed as Critically Endangered, the Endangered, and the Vulnerable. Some groups have added the following categories: Near Threatened and Extinct.
Of the more than 1,200 bird species, almost 200 of these birds fall under the Critically Endangered, and about 132 are now just a part of our animal history. This 132 birds have not been seen since the 1500s. An additional 4 more bird species are currently being monitored as being in grave danger and have been placed under strict governance in a captive mode. Hopefully, these 4 species will be able to procreate and released into their natural habitat.
Three of the last bird species to be classified as extinct are the Spix’s Macaw which was last seen in the year 2000 in Brazil; the Hawaiian Crow which disappeared from sight in mid 2002; and the Po’ouli bird, the last one dying in captivity in Hawaii also in 2004.
Birds are particularly vulnerable to weather conditions and threat from environmental hazards. This is perhaps the primary reason why they are getting most of the attention from conservationists. The index known as the Red List, shows a sad decline in the bird family that took a sharp turn for the worst in 2008. Many of these birds facing extinction come from the Indo-Malay region like Indonesia and Borneo.
Most of these threatened birds live in forests which are rapidly turning into agricultural or residential land. Logging and human disturbance are the top causes why our birds are facing extinction. One of these rare birds is the wandering albatross which is a large flying bird. It is born brown but as it grows older, turns into a wonderful white color with black-lined wing tips. Another endangered bird species is the Crested Shelduck which has unique green feathers on the top of its head. At present, they can be seen only in China. Other birds are the Norfolk Green Parrot, Gorgeted Puffleg, Puerto Rican parrot, Whooping Crane, Wood Stork, California Condor, and many more.