Living in the city has accustomed us to seeing the same species of birds all the time. Even traveling locally we discover only a few majestic birds in the sky, but there are thousands of species, some beautiful and others incredibly terrifying. Unfortunately, it seems that little by little they are disappearing.
Scientists from the Zoological Society of London and Yale University studied 9,993 bird species and listed them in order of endangered. Even if only a few are shown, this is a sign of how fragile the ecosystem is and that if we continue to build more cities, deforesting and drying up rivers, soon we will have no birds in the sky.
Kagu (Rhynochetos jubatus)
The “forest ghost” lives on the French dependency island called New Caledonia, its white and ashy color made it an exotic and beautiful bird worthy of admiration, but in the last 20 years its number has decreased considerably due to attacks from different domestic animals.
Kakapo (Stigops habroptila)
This small parakeet evolved and lost the ability to fly due to the absence of predators in New Zealand. However, hunting introduced new predators that helped make them extinct in their natural habitats. Efforts to save captive hatchlings have resulted in around 125 kakapos existing today on three New Zealand islands, but the number remains very low.
California condor (Gymnogyps californianus)
This huge and mythical bird was feared in the past. Myths said that she bathed in the blood of men so that by spilling it while flying she could find her way back. Despite the fact that it was always part of local mythology, hunting ended almost all condors and in 1981 only 21 of these gigantic birds were recorded.
New Caledonian Egotelo (Aegotheles savesi)
From the same island as the Kagu, this is probably the most elusive bird in nature. Although it is not believed to be totally extinct (about 50 individuals are expected to exist), it has not been seen anywhere since 1998. Two expeditions more than 10 years ago failed to find it, but the scientific community still hopes they can help protect it.
Giant Ibis (Thaumatibis gigantea)
Considered the bird most in danger of becoming extinct, although there are more than 200 individuals that have been recorded in certain areas of Cambodia and perhaps in Laos or Vietnam. It is the most endangered bird because in addition to its large size – it can measure more than one meter and weigh more than four kilos – almost nothing is known about its mating habits.
WWF can be a good option if you also want to help birds in need. Remember that in addition to avoiding deforestation, preserving natural resources and places, and promoting those values, the people who interact with these animals often need resources to do so.