3. Dr. Leon Bennun
Director of Science, Information and Policy Birdlife International

4. Why bother about birds?
Nature underpins our lives, and birds are a wonderful window on nature.
But bird numbers are declining around the globe.
Protecting nature is affordable, and represents a sound investment. In the future, the costs will be far greater.
Bird conservation makes economic sense… and it works.
The status of the world’s birds is declining
BirdLife International World Congress
Partnerships for Nature and People
Ottawa Canada
June
State of the World’s Birds

5. Birds help us understand the natural world
We know more about birds than any other wildlife group. Their decline reflects a deteriorating global environment, affecting all life – including people.
Birds are an accurate and easy-to-read environmental barometer that lets us monitor the pressures we put on the world’s biodiversity.
The map shows the density of bird species across the world
Birds are excellent indicators and a popular window on the world
BirdLife International World Congress
Partnerships for Nature and People
Ottawa Canada
June
State of the World’s Birds

6. Many bird species, including common ones, are declining
In Europe, data over 30 years show that common birds are also in decline.
Some groups – such as those found on farmland – are declining faster than others.
European Turtle-dove example as a species at threat throughout its annual life cycle/
Many governments now use common bird trends to track environmental sustainability
BirdLife International World Congress
Partnerships for Nature and People
Ottawa Canada
June
State of the World’s Birds

7. Many bird species are at risk of extinction
Near Threatened
880 (9%)
Threatened
1,313 (13%)
Least Concern
7,677 (77%)
Vulnerable
727 (55%)
Data Deficient
60 (1%)
Critically
Endangered
197 (15%)
Example of CR species, Philippine Eagle – threats it faces
Endangered
389 (30%)
197 bird species are classified as Critically Endangered, the highest threat level
One in eight bird species is threatened with extinction
BirdLife International World Congress
Partnerships for Nature and People
Ottawa Canada
June
State of the World’s Birds

8. The status of the world’s birds is deteriorating
Cue example of Tristan Albatross
The UN now uses BirdLife’s Red List Index to monitor sustainability
Birds are declining, but some groups such as seabirds are deteriorating faster than others.
BirdLife International World Congress
Partnerships for Nature and People
Ottawa Canada
June
State of the World’s Birds

9. A range of threats is driving declines in globally threatened birds
The two biggest threats are agriculture and logging, example here of deforestation in Sumatra, Indonesia for palm oil
Unsustainable agricultural practices are the greatest threat to bird species
BirdLife International World Congress
Partnerships for Nature and People
Ottawa Canada
June
State of the World’s Birds

10. Dr. Stuart Butchart
Head of Science
Birdlife International

11. Some sites are particularly important for birds and other wildlife
We know where the most important nature sites are. We call these Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas – IBAs for short.
BirdLife has identified more than
12,000 IBAs on land and at sea
BirdLife International World Congress
Partnerships for Nature and People
Ottawa Canada
June
State of the World’s Birds

12. Many IBAs are in an unfavourable state— “IBAs in Danger”
The BirdLife Partnership identified over 300 IBAs worldwide that need effective protection and management.
IBA monitoring by BirdLife Partners has helped to identify IBAs in Danger
BirdLife International World Congress
Partnerships for Nature and People
Ottawa Canada
June
State of the World’s Birds

13. IBAs guide protection in the oceans
IBAs affect how we manage marine resources such as fish stocks
Marine IBAs have been instrumental in identifying Protected Areas in the oceans
BirdLife International World Congress
Partnerships for Nature and People
Ottawa Canada
June
State of the World’s Birds

14. What will it cost to save nature and protect it?
How much will it cost:
To save all threatened species from extinction?
To protect and manage key sites like Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas?
BirdLife data show that US$80 billion per year
is needed for global nature protection
BirdLife International World Congress
Partnerships for Nature and People
Ottawa Canada
June
State of the World’s Birds

15. Investing in conservation is essential… and affordable
The key figure is the comparison to the annual figure on soft drinks spending!
This expense an investment ,not a bill.
The alternative will be far more costly
BirdLife International World Congress
Partnerships for Nature and People
Ottawa Canada
June
State of the World’s Birds

16. BirdLife Partners are implementing effective solutions
North American example of Californian Condor
BirdLife Partners have taken action for over 537 threatened species (40%), since 2008
BirdLife International World Congress
Partnerships for Nature and People
Ottawa Canada
June
State of the World’s Birds

17. Species can be saved from extinction
Habitat restoration and the removal of invasive plant species
by the BirdLife Partner in Portugal has helped save the Azores Bullfinch from extinction.
In Brazil, the BirdLife Partner and others have successfully lobbied for a new state park to safeguard the future of the Restinga Antwren
Over ten years, action by BirdLife Partners and others prevented the extinction of 16 bird species
BirdLife International World Congress
Partnerships for Nature and People
Ottawa Canada
June
State of the World’s Birds

18. Citizen Science: Working Together on the State of Canada’s Birds
Jon McCracken
Director of National Programs,
Bird Studies Canada
Co-chair, Birds Specialist Subcommittee (Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada)

19. Report Overview www.stateofcanadasbirds.org
Canada’s first comprehensive report on the health of bird populations
What can changes in bird populations tell us about our environment?
How is human activity affecting bird populations?

20. Changes in Canada’s Birds
On average Canadian bird populations have declined by 12%
 Some groups of species doing well (33% of species)
 Other groups of species declining (44% of species)

21. Canada’s Species at Risk
70 bird species in Canada face some risk of extinction or extirpation Four others are already Extinct or Extirpated.
Canada Warbler (Threatened)
85% of Canadians say laws protecting species at risk are crucial to the diversity and abundance of wildlife, the Canadian economy, and Canadians’ health. – Ipsos Reid poll (December 2012)

22. Birds of Prey are recovering
Raptors (hawks, eagles, falcons)
70% average increase
Populations of many species had crashed by the 1960s, largely as a result of pesticides such as DDT
Banning of DDT has allowed many species to recover -- and made the environment healthier for people
Bald Eagle
Peregrine Falcon 22

23. Waterfowl are doing well
Waterfowl (ducks, geese, swans)
– 45% average increase since 1970
Reflects success of conservation and management actions
Effective regulation of hunting began in 1917, spurred by dramatic declines in populations of many species because of intense commercial exploitation
Investment in wetland habitat conservation has been key since then

24. Aerial Insectivores in decline
Aerial Insectivores (birds that catch insects in flight, such as swallows, swifts and flycatchers)
– 64% decline
Causes uncertain:
changes in insect populations?
loss of habitat?
climate change? JM
Barn Swallow
Common Nighthawk
Olive-sided Flycatcher

25. Grassland birds in trouble
 Grassland birds - 45% decline
Some species have declined more than 90%
Loss of breeding and winter habitat
Conversion of native grassland
Agricultural intensification – replacing pasture with grain
McCown’s Longspur
Eastern Meadowlark
Bobolink 25

26. Citizen Science is Key
An army of thousands of talented volunteer birders help monitor Canada’s bird populations through a variety of programs:
Christmas Bird Count
Breeding Bird Survey
Project FeederWatch
Migration Monitoring
eBird Canada
Breeding Bird Atlases
There are many opportunities. Learn more at: 26

27. Manager of Bird Conservation Programs, Nature Canada
International Conservation: Opportunities for Action
Ted Cheskey
Manager of Bird Conservation Programs, Nature Canada
Author of over 20 bird conservation plans
Steering committee member and co-author of State of Canada’s Birds
35 years in bird monitoring and conservation

28. Where do “our” birds go?
4 in 5 “Canadian” bird species spend much of their lives beyond our borders.
Amongst the groups of species that are declining, in general the ones that migrate further from Canada are suffering the steepest declines. This includes several species of the three groups highlighted earlier, aerial insectivores, shorebirds and grassland birds. 28

29. Further = Worse off Migrant Decline USA  5% Central America
and Caribbean  15%
South America  60%
Year-round Residents Increase
Canada
(year-round residents)  50%
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Wood Thrush
Arctic Tern 29

30. Disappearing shorebirds
Shorebirds (sandpipers, plovers)
42% decline overall
Largest declines for Arctic-nesting species (>60%)
Amazing migrations
Dependency on stop-over sites
Susceptibility to disturbance
Unknown contribution of climate change
Panama Bay Whimbrel 30

31. Story of the Rufa Red Knot
James Bay, Canada
Migrates from Canadian Arctic to Tierra del Fuego (30,000 km round trip) annually
Depends upon key stop-overs to refuel including James Bay, Gulf of St. Lawrence, Delaware Bay USA, north east and south east Brazil, and Tierra de Fuego Chile/Argentina.
Moon Bird
Delaware Bay, USA
Bahia Lomas, Chile
Arrives skinny and hungry
Leaves plump and healthy 31

32. Important Bird Areas: a site-based solution32

33. Important Bird Areas: Priorities for conservation
2/3 IBAs in Canada are not formally protected
IBA networks throughout the Americas benefit our species
Canadians (government/NGOs/ business, individuals) need to invest conservation efforts abroad
2 views of Panama Bay, Matt Jeffries 33

34. Address working landscape:
International Cooperation protects grassland birds
Declining grassland birds
Habitat loss is biggest challenge throughout range
Pesticides also impacting species
Upland Sandpiper
Bobolink
Alliance for the Grasslands
Cooperation to conserve grasslands in pampas of South America
Conserve traditional economy
Promote “certified” beef
Restore grassland bird populations
Apply similar strategies to breeding grounds in Canada and USA 34

35. A path forward
We know the priorities for conservation research and action
We know the solutions:
Investment in Partnerships
Protect IBAs
Flyways approach for key species
Respect and support traditional economies
Focus research where needed
Apply precautionary principle
So Let’s do it! 35

36. Questions?

37. Thank You! For more information on BirdLife International:
For images or copies of the report: Ami Kingdon SMCC Vincent Allaire SMCC Media Officer (français)
To coordinate interviews with panelists: Elaine Secord Bird Studies Canada
For more information on BirdLife International:
Martin Fowlie
BirdLife International