Nine native birds edge closer to extinction - global assessment,
Press Release: Royal Forest And Bird Protection Society
1 June 2005 - Wellington
Press Release: Royal Forest And Bird Protection Society
1 June 2005 - Wellington
Nine native birds edge closer to extinction - global assessment
Two New Zealand native bird species - red-fronted parakeet (kakariki)
and rock wren - have been added to the list of globally threatened
birds following an international reassessment of the world's threatened
bird species released today. A further seven native bird species have
had their global threat status upgraded to a higher threat category.
"If these birds continue to decline at this rate, the only place to
hear them in a few years time might be on the National Radio bird-call
slot," Forest and Bird's Conservation Manager Kevin Hackwell said
today.
"This reassessment is a disturbing reminder that New Zealand needs to
do more to stem the decline of its approximately 800 threatened
species," he said.
"Introduced pests have contributed to the decline of at least six of
the nine bird species upgraded in today's reassessment," he said.
"Chatham Island shag and orange-fronted parakeet have gone up a threat
category from endangered to critically endangered. They are in the same
league as the kakapo. High predation during a breeding season could
wipe out the orange-fronted parakeet forever," he said.
"While the cause for the Chatham Island shag's decline is unclear,
orange-fronted parakeets have been the victim of periodic rat and stoat
plagues. Predation has also contributed to the threatened status of
kaka, red-fronted parakeet (kakariki), yellowhead (mohua), black-billed
gull and rock wren," he said.
"New Zealand dotterel have declined through habitat loss caused by
coastal development, predation by cats and stoats, and disturbance by
people, vehicles and pets," he said.
Notes
Where to find the full list of changes
BirdLife International's revisions and the associated documentation are
being released on the internet today and will be incorporated into the
2005 World Conservation Union (IUCN) Red List of Globally Threatened
Species which is due for publication in the Northern Autumn 2005.
They can be found at:
http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species/index.html
pine trees development and impoted vermin have raped papatuanuku of
her korowai, leaving her unable to provide sustenance hei oranga mo
nga mokopuna o Te Wao nui a Tane
