Scientists have confirmed the extinction of the Slender-billed Curlew, a migratory shorebird that last appeared in Morocco in 1995. This represents the first known extinction from mainland Europe, North Africa, and West Asia. The factors contributing to its decline include habitat loss, hunting, and possibly climate change. Conservationists stress the urgent need for action to prevent further avian extinctions and protect migratory species globally.
Recent scientific analysis confirms the extinction of the Slender-billed Curlew, a migratory shorebird that bred in western Siberia and wintered in the Mediterranean region. This marks the first documented bird extinction from mainland Europe, North Africa, and West Asia. The last confirmed sighting of the species occurred in northern Morocco in 1995. To date, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) recognizes a total of 164 bird species that have become extinct since 1500, a disturbing statistic amidst over 11,000 assessed species by BirdLife International, the authoritative body overseeing avian conservation status. This publication represents a collaborative effort between esteemed organizations such as the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), BirdLife International, Naturalis Biodiversity Center, and the Natural History Museum. Principal Policy Officer for the RSPB, Ms. Nicola Crockford, expressed profound concern regarding this extinction. She articulated, “This is one of the most fundamentally devastating stories to come out of nature conservation in a century and gets to the very heart of why the RSPB and BirdLife Partnership are doing what we do; that is, ultimately, to prevent extinction of species. This is the first known global extinction of a bird from mainland Europe, North Africa and West Asia. This has happened in our lifetimes. How can we expect countries beyond Europe to step up for their species when our comparatively wealthy countries have failed?” The factors leading to the decline of the Slender-billed Curlew remain elusive, yet several pressures are suggested. These include significant drainage of their breeding habitats for agricultural purposes, loss of vital coastal wetlands for winter feeding, and hunting of an already diminished population. Other potential influences, such as pollution, disease, predation, and climate change, warrant further investigation but are poorly understood in regards to their specific impact. Dr. Alex Bond, Senior Curator in Charge of Birds at the Natural History Museum, highlighted the extensive efforts made to locate the curlew after it ceased returning to its primary wintering ground. He stated, “When the Slender-billed Curlew stopped returning to their main wintering site at Merja Zerga, Morocco, there was quite a lot of effort put in to try to locate them on breeding grounds. Several expeditions, hundreds of thousands of square kilometres searched. And all this has turned up, unfortunately, is nothing.” Moreover, he further noted, “As climate change continues, this is going to be the status quo. Things are not getting better for birds. Tackling climate change, habitat destruction and pollution is the best chance we’ve got at protecting them, at home and abroad.” Following this distressing announcement, it was noted that 16 additional migratory shorebird species have been elevated to higher threat categories on the IUCN Red List due to population declines, emphasizing the urgent need for conservation action. Mr. Alex Berryman, Red List Officer at BirdLife International and co-author of the publication, remarked, “The devastating loss of the Slender-billed Curlew sends a warning that no birds are immune from the threat of extinction. More than 150 bird species have become globally extinct since 1500. Invasive species have often been the culprit… However, while the wave of island extinctions may be slowing, the rate of continental extinctions is increasing. This is a result of habitat destruction and degradation, overexploitation and other threats. Urgent conservation action is desperately needed to save birds; without it we must be braced for a much larger extinction wave washing over the continents.” In her conclusion, Ms. Crockford succinctly asserted the interconnectedness of migratory birds: “Migratory birds connect nations. Efforts by some countries to conserve a species can be undermined by damaging actions in other countries which share the same migratory species… The extinction of the Slender-billed Curlew is as much a clarion call for greatly enhanced action for nature as the floods, fires and droughts devastating the planet are for action to combat climate change.”
The Slender-billed Curlew, long known for its migratory patterns from western Siberia to the Mediterranean regions, has faced drastic population declines, leading to its recent classification as extinct according to scientists. The severity of this extinction is underscored by its being the first recorded from mainland Europe, North Africa, and West Asia. The analysis that confirmed its extinction highlights broader trends in bird population declines, emphasizing the urgent need for effective conservation strategies globally.
The extinction of the Slender-billed Curlew serves as a potent reminder of the fragility of migratory bird species and the urgent need for international action to preserve biodiversity. The collaboration among conservation organizations reflects a commitment to understanding and tackling the threats faced by avian species today. The call for enhanced global conservation efforts must be amplified in light of this tragic loss, as the survival of migratory birds is intimately linked to ecological health across borders.
Original Source: www.birdlife.org
