SynopsisThis is a book about the 189 rarest birds, those categorised as Critically Endangered on a global scale. The rarest of the rare, some indeed so rare that they haven’t been seen for years and it is uncertain if they may still be out there.
Its primary purpose is to describe the situation of these threatened species in a comprehensible and popular way. The Rare Birds Yearbook should be equally engaging for dedicated ornithologists and birders, and for general readers.
In the book, the focus has been placed on the often dramatic circumstances, which have pushed a large number of species to the brink of extinction.
But it also highlights the good examples, cases where active commitment and hard work have improved the bird's prospects.
Rare Birds Yearbook 2008 may well be the most important book on birds published this year. Apart from putting the spotlight on the situation of the Critically Endangered species, sales of the book will create funds to help save them. We have committed ourselves to donating £4.00 (more than 20%) for every book sold to the partner in this project, BirdLife International, to be used for the protection and conservation of these exclusive species.
The main part of the book is a directory of the 189 critically endangered species with history, the latest information on the status of the species, what measures are being taken to protect them, and more than 500 photos, paintings and maps.
Photographers from all over the world have contributed with often unique images of these rarely encountered species.
The book also contains a number of specially written feature articles on issues related to threatened birds such as climate change, the people who find rare birds, and ecotourism. The book also has sections of statistics and lists, a directory of regional organisations and commercial bird tour companies arranging travel to see critically endangered birds, and much more.
Visit www.rarebirdsyearbook.com to buy the book
ISBN 9780955260735
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Book Review
A vital web, ripped apart
from The Times
December 1, 2007
Wild Notebook: a list of 189 birds most at risk of extinction underlines our cavalier attitude to biodiversity
by Simon Barnes
It is the best of books, it is the worst of books. It is a book of hope, it is a book of despair; it is a book of beauty, it is a book of ugliness; it is a book about human folly, it is a book about human wisdom. It is the Rare Birds Yearbook for 2008, published by Birdlife International, and it tells of the planet's 189 most threatened birds.
First savour the sadness.
Carrizal seed-eater: the habitat of the only known population was destroyed by work on the Guri Dam in Venezuela.
Chinese crested tern: breeding colonies off the Shandong coast of Northern China have disappeared, probably because of human settlement. Egg-collecting for food threatens remaining colonies.
Cozumel thrasher: found only on Cozumel Island, Mexico. Vulnerable to introduced snakes and cats; hurricanes have affected the remnant population.
Grenada dove: found only in Grenada. Suffered from introduced cats, rats and mongooses. Habitat mostly destroyed. Now a big resort is planned on the little that's left.
Pink-headed duck: found in Indian wetlands. Population initially reduced by hunting, latterly by forest clearance and drainage of wetland, along with egg-collection and human disturbance.
St Helena plover: found only on St Helena. Changes of land use, recreational off-road driving and introduced cats have caused a serious decline, The most important breeding site now earmarked for a new airport.
Waved albatross: breeds on south Espanola island in the Galápagos.
Long-line fishing is the main threat.
But this is more than a series of sad tales of birds with quaint names. We are talking about the loss of biodiversity: and biodiversity is not just something nice and weird and funky. Biodiversity is the basic mechanism by which the planet works.
How many species can we afford to lose? No one knows, but here's the rivet-popper hypothesis: an aeroplane can lose a rivet and continue to fly. And another, and another. But if the loss continues, there will inevitably come a point when the damn thing falls out of the sky.
But here are some happier tales.
Azores bullfinch: conservation work continues will full support of Portuguese Government.
Gurney's pitta: new populations have been discovered by expeditions to Burma.
Madagascar pochard: a diving duck that was considered extinct. It was rediscovered in 2006, and now conservation efforts are in progress to save the tiny remnant population.
Northern bald ibis: one of the world's most peculiar-looking birds.
Satellite tracking, captive breeding and conservation work across the Middle East are continuing.
Sociable lapwing: a satellite tag located a flock of 3,000 birds, the largest for 100 years.
Sumatran ground-cuckoo: not seen for 100 years, but sighted in two places in the past two years.
Yellow-eared parrot: a recovery continues in Colombia, and includes protected areas, reforestation, nest-boxes and an education campaign.
Moral: the world in is a bad state, and the vital web of biodiversity is being destroyed. But there are people out there trying to stop the destruction, and you can be one of them. Birdlife International would welcome your support.
