Planet of Birds

The pacific islands of Mauke and Mangaia have been identfied as Important Bird Areas (IBAs) and Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) by Te Ipukarea Society (TIS; BirdLife in the Cook Islands) and BirdLife International. TIS Programme Manager Jacqui Evans recently travelled to the two islands to raise awareness in the community about the importance to the […]

The nocturnal calls of Black-capped Petrels Pterodroma hasitata have guided Haitian researchers to discover more nesting locations for this Endangered seabird. During November and December 2011, researchers from the Socit Audubon Hati (SAH) carried out field expeditions as part of their ongoing efforts to better understand and conserve Haitis unique biodiversity. read more at birdlife>

Wetlands are diverse habitats that are extremely important for biodiversity. They also provide vital benefits for millions of people, including food, fibre, flood protection, water purification and supply. Their importance is reflected in the designation of nearly 2,000 Wetlands of International Importance (or Ramsar sites: see www.ramsar.org) covering more than 191 million hectares. read more […]

In recent weeks, participants in BirdLife?s Spring Alive campaign have been spotting the arrival of migratory birds all around Europe. Spring Alive invites citizens – especially children – from all over Europe to record their first sightings of Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica, Common Cuckoo Cuculus canorus, Common Swift Apus apus and White Stork Ciconia ciconia. […]

Ten Short-tailed Albatross Phoebastria albatrus chicks have been moved by helicopter, from their current stronghold on Torishima Island to the site of a former colony 350 km to the South-east. read more at birdlife

Audubon (BirdLife in US) and National Geographic have teamed-up to allow people online around the globe to witness the largest concentration of Sandhill Cranes Grus canadensis in the world from a unique ?cranes-eye view?. The Crane Cam is providing outstanding views of Sandhill Cranes in the shallow waters of the Platte River within Audubon?s Rowe […]

New research by Bird Studies Canada (BirdLife Partner in Canada) has highlighted alarming trends in insect-eating birds. In the last two decades alone, populations of many common bug-eating species – such as Sand Martin Riparia riparia, Common Nighthawk Chordeiles minor and Chimney Swift Chaetura pelagica – have declined by over 70%. With many of the […]

A partnership between BirdLife International and the Nagilogilo Clan of Vatuira has resulted in the successful eradication of Pacific Rats Rattus exulans from this internationally important seabird colony. Vatuira – a small island located 15 km from the coast of Fiji?s largest island Viti Levu – is an Important Bird Area (IBA) for several seabird […]

A bird that was known only from two records from the 1920s has been discovered in the Pacific after a gap of 79 years. Sightings of the Critically Endangered Beck?s Petrel Pseudobulweria becki – published by the British Ornithologists’ Club – have finally proven the species is still in existence, and delighted conservationists. read more […]

Identifying Important Bird Areas (IBAs), and ensuring their long-term protection, cannot be achieved without detailed information of the bird populations occurring within them. This was highlighted by a study published this month in BirdLife?s journal Bird Conservation International. The authors produced new data from Kazakhstan highlighting the importance of land surrounding the protected Korgalzhynskiy nature […]