The IUCN determined that 12% of our world's bird species are endangered and in threat of being extinct. Additional 8% are in near threat status.
Therefore 1 of every 5 birds could be extinct during the next 50–80 years — that is about 2,000 different bird species!
1 of every 8 birds is endangered.
Bird species are facing many threats:
Habitat Loss
Due to agriculture development and human population growth. Forests around the world are being destroyed fast — for lumber, wood for fuel, land clearance for plantation or development, and for urban expansion.
Pesticides
About 5 billion pounds of pesticides are manufactured each year. These can damage bird populations through death from exposure to concentrated doses, hormonal effects, destruction of prey organisms, and damage to plants which birds use for feeding and nesting.
Bird Capture
For trading, or unintentional capture of seabirds by fisheries operations.
Invasive Species
Non-native predators (like snakes and rats) invading islands which birds use as safe nesting grounds.
How Can You Help?
- Do not keep birds in captivity. The trade in wild birds will stop only when the market for them disappears. There is no way to ensure that cage birds were not taken from the wild.
- Refrain from using pesticides and chemical fertilisers.
- Plant indigenous trees and flowers in your garden — these support local birds and wildlife.
- Support and join conservation organisations. There are many committed conservation organisations creating major changes that rely on your support. Some examples can be found on our Resources page at /resources.
Discover 10 of the world's most critically endangered birds in our illustrated children's book "Our Planet's Most Endangered Birds" — available on Amazon at /books.