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dendroica:

First eight bird extinctions of the 21st century confirmed | The Guardian

Spix’s macaw, a brilliant blue species of Brazilian parrot that starred in the children’s animation Rio, has become extinct this century, according to a new assessment of endangered birds.

The macaw is one of eight species, including the poo-uli, the Pernambuco pygmy-owl and the cryptic treehunter, that can be added to the growing list of confirmed or highly likely extinctions, according to a new statistical analysis by BirdLife International.

Historically, most bird extinctions have been small-island species vulnerable to hunting or invasive species but five of these new extinctions have occurred in South America and are attributed by scientists to deforestation.

Stuart Butchart, BirdLife International’s chief scientist, said the new study highlighted that an extinction crisis was now unfolding on large continents, driven by human habitat destruction.

“People think of extinctions and think of the dodo but our analysis shows that extinctions are continuing and accelerating today,” he said. “Historically 90% of bird extinctions have been small populations on remote islands. Our evidence shows there is a growing wave of extinctions washing over the continent driven by habitat loss from unsustainable agriculture, drainage and logging.”

More than 26,000 of the world’s species are now threatened, according to the latest “red list” assessment, with scientists warning that humans are driving a sixth great extinction event.

Four of the eight newly identified bird extinctions took place in Brazil, once home to Spix’s macaw. The attractive parrot was caged and traded for 150 years before any wild populations were discovered but in 1985, three birds were found in a Brazilian forest. Two were illegally captured for the pet trade, and attempts to breed the final male were unsuccessful. A 2016 sighting in the wild is now thought to have been an escaped caged bird, leaving the last known sighting in 2000.

While captive populations of Spix’s macaw are being bred for reintroduction into restored woodland habitat there is no second chance for the poo-uli, the cryptic treehunter and the Alagoas foliage-gleaner: they have disappeared from the skies forever.

all-things-pigeon:

raygirlramblings:

~Be a Flamingo in a flock of Pigeons…and you’ll fit right in!~

I disliked the expression ‘be a flamingo in a flock of pigeons’ as a means to encourage people to be ‘unique’ and stand out.  Personally I think it’s quite insulting to pigeons, and shows that the average person hasn’t had a proper look at a pigeon, or don’t know that fancy and exotic pigeon/dove breeds exist.  Species like the Bleeding Heart, the Victoria Crown and Jambu Fruit dove are all gorgeous and flamboyant examples of the Columbidae species, and easy challengers to the flamingo. 

So I wanted to do a quick little drawing just showing off some of these lovely birds…and a smug flamingo 😉

Yes, I love this!