Population densities, using distance sampling, and habitat associations of the range-restricted Rock Firefinch Lagonosticta sanguinodorsalis were investigated between late May and early July 2002 in a protected site at Amurum on the Jos Plateau, Nigeria, and in unprotected surrounding habitats. Rock Firefinches were strongly associated with inselbergs and rocky outcrops and avoided scrub and abandoned farmland. Density was not significantly higher on the Amurum protected site (0.79 birds/ha; 95% CL 0.51–1.21) than on the unprotected areas (0.55 birds/ha; 95% CL 0.37–0.82). Rock Firefinches were locally common around inselbergs on the Jos Plateau, even where this habitat was unprotected. It remains uncertain to what extent increasing habitat degradation may affect this species' ability to persist as small populations in isolated habitat fragments. Rock Firefinch's host-specific brood parasite, the similarly range-restricted Jos Plateau Indigobird Vidua maryae, was not seen until June during this study, and no density estimate is available.

The Raso Lark Alauda razae is a globally endangered species that is endemic to the islet of Raso (16°93′ N, 24°38′ W) in the Cape Verde archipelago (Collar et al. 1994). Raso is a small (c.7 km2) uninhabited islet with a plain averaging 25 m in elevation to the south and west and small boulder-strewn hills to the north and east rising up to 164 m (Figure 1). The islet comprises mostly rocky desert, with some extensive sandy patches on the western plain. Vegetation is sparse and confined to small patches on the plains and along dry river valleys.

An ornithological survey was conducted in December 1994 at the lower Río Nangaritza valley in southern Ecuador, during which 181 species were recorded. These data combined with published records reveal the number of species known for this area to be 290. Of these, nine species are classified as globally vulnerable: Solitary Eagle Harpyhaliaetus solitarius, White-breasted Parakeet Pyrrhura albipectus, Spot-winged Parrotlet Touit stictoptera, Napo Sabrewing Campylopterus villaviscensio, Ecuadorean Piedtail Phlogophilus hemileucurus, Lanceolated Monklet Micromonacha lanceolata, Coppery-chested Jacamar Galbula pastazae, Fiery-throated Fruiteater Pipreola chlorolepidota and Orange-throated Tanager Wetmorethraupis sterrhopteron. Of the 290 species listed 115 are currently unrecorded in the adjacent Podocarpus National Park and therefore inhabit no protected area in southern Ecuador. Wildlife of the Nangaritza valley is threatened by gold mining, encroachment and hunting. Given the high avian diversity and the known botanical importance of the area plans to conserve the undisturbed forests of this region as part of a buffer zone for the adjacent Podocarpus National Park are recommended.

In this paper, we argue that bird atlases, and the databases from which they are produced, are becoming increasingly valuable resources – but only in some parts of the world. There is a striking lack of atlases for almost all of the world's species-rich areas, most notably tropical America and tropical Asia. Yet even comparatively modest data sets (we take Uganda as an example) can be used to create an atlas. Further, their data can yield interesting information with clear value for conservation planning. For instance, we can see that Uganda's main savanna parks are quite well-placed in relation to raptor species richness, whilst other species of conservation concern are less well covered. In contrast, the fine-scale data-rich atlas projects in many American and European countries provide detailed information of great value. Taking examples from England, we show some of their uses in planning both for physical developments and for conservation. Repeating atlas projects after an interval of several years highlights changing distributions and, increasingly, changing levels of abundance. We believe that every encouragement should be given to new (and repeat) atlasing projects - but most especially in the tropics.

The occurrence of the Black-fronted Francolin Pternistis atrifrons is restricted to a tiny area in southern Ethiopia. Based on field studies from 2012 to 2014, we modelled the range and estimated the population size of the species in order to evaluate its current conservation status. Annual mean temperature (relatively low) and precipitation (relatively high) proved to be key factors for the probability of its occurrence. The modelled range is 1,286 km2 (“extent of occurrence” according to the IUCN Red List criteria). However, only about one third of the modelled range is actually populated by the Black-fronted Francolin. This area, around 385 km2, corresponds to the IUCN’s “area of occupancy”. The total population size is estimated at 1,100 to 2,100 mature individuals. Thus, we conclude that the species should be classified as Endangered, criteria: A2c+B1ab(i,iii,v) + B2ab(i,iii,v); population trend: decreasing. This means that the Black-fronted Francolin is one of Africa’s most endangered galliforms. Major threats are range and habitat losses due to agricultural expansion, grazing pressure, commercial firewood and timber exploitation, and hunting. Furthermore, expected climate changes in south-east Ethiopia (higher temperatures, less precipitation) could further exacerbate these threats. We propose urgent conservation actions, including the extension of the currently projected Borana National Park.

The Blue Bird-of-paradise Paradisaea rudolphi (BBOP) is a globally threatened species restricted to the montane rainforest of Papua New Guinea (PNG). Local inhabitants hunt the BBOP for its feathers, which is one of the main reasons for its population decline. The feathers are used for both traditional and commercial purposes. So far virtually nothing is known about which factors enhance or decrease hunting pressure, and how this is influenced by ongoing market integration of local communities. Field research in PNG suggests that the demand for BBOP feathers and, with that, the collection intensity, primarily stem from traditional uses, such as head decoration. Interest in the traditional use of the feathers is particularly high in remote villages, while the value attributed to living birds is higher in less remote villages, suggesting a decrease of BBOP collection intensity with increased market integration. However, increased access to ‘outside influences’ (namely tourism and Christianity) may both decrease as well as increase hunting pressures. Finally, we argue that awareness-raising among local people, government officials and tourists may well be the most sensible conservation measure.

Most attention on tropical biodiversity conservation has focussed on protected areas. Recognising and enhancing the value of biodiversity outside, as well as inside, protected areas is increasingly important given recognition that biodiversity targets will not be met through protected areas alone. We investigated the extent to which protection influences colony occupancy and colony size of a species of conservation concern, the rock-nesting White-necked Picathartes Picathartes gymnocephalus. We used mixed models to compare long term trends at 42 colonies located both inside and outside a protected area of forest, Gola Rainforest National Park, and considered colonies further inside the boundary as being better protected. Colony occupation was primarily predicted by the level of protection, with occupation highest within protected areas, but was not different between colonies situated close to or far from the boundary. Mean colony occupation was consistently high in protected areas, and lower in unprotected areas. The surface area of colony rocks was also an important predictor with larger rock faces having a higher probability of occupancy. Our best models also included distance to forested habitat, presence of cleared forest and evidence of hunting as less important predictors. Over the eight-year study, after controlling for rock surface area, active colony size declined significantly. However, declines were only significant in colonies in unprotected forest, whilst colonies located within protected areas were buffered from significant decline. Together this suggests colony occupancy and the number of active nests are influenced by protection and human disturbance. Although a lack of demographic and population dynamic work on picathartes prevents identifying mechanisms, we show that despite unprotected colonies having lower occupancy and fewer active nests they can persist in human altered and disturbed areas, partly because larger traditionally used rocks remain important nesting sites.

The avifauna of the environs of North-western Peru Biosphere Reserve (NPBR) is herein catalogued. This reserve embraces the largest example of protected Neotropical Pacific xeric forests, a habitat complex much scarcer than rainforests. NPBR is very important conservationally because much of the adjoining dry-forest region of south-western Ecuador has been denuded. Exact locality records and their specific literature sources are furnished for North American migrants and those species which have inhabited the vicinity of NPBR but have not been reported there by the authors of reference books that address avian geography. For each tabulated avian species, the earliest attribution or one of the earliest attributions for a specific record of that taxon in the environs of NPBR is provided. Also, 16 species that are threatened, or are endemic to a short strip of extreme south-western Ecuador and north-western Peru, are noted.

Olive groves in the Mediterranean basin have undergone a tremendous increase during the last two decades, with most of the new olive groves being planted on arable land. This conversion may affect habitat suitability for steppe birds, which are associated with arable land and other open-land habitats, such as natural pastures. In this work, we evaluate the presence of new olive groves in the distribution of the Great Bustard Otis tarda and the Little Bustard Tetrax tetrax in Southern Spain (the largest olive oil production zone in the world), and we compare the percentage of different land uses in 2000 and 2018 using data provided by the Corine Land Cover. From 2000 to 2018, new olive groves occupied 2.14 and 2.61% of the distribution areas of the Great Bustard and the Little Bustard, respectively. The decrease in arable land and the increase in permanent crops were the main drivers of the landscape composition changes during the study period. The fragmentation index of arable land was higher in 2018 than 2000. These changes in the landscape suggest a decrease in habitat availability and suitability for steppe birds that could affect the distribution and abundance of their populations. Moreover, there were no differences in the proportion of new olive groves planted inside and outside the limits of Important Bird Areas (IBAs) from 2000 to 2018, which were created to protect these steppe birds, thus suggesting that the management policy of the IBAs should be reviewed to prevent harmful land-use changes.

We undertook a 3-week expedition to Papua New Guinea in April-May 2007 to assess the breeding, threats and population densities of the Papuan Harrier Circus spilonotus spilothorax and to determine a first global population estimate for this almost entirely unknown species. Two of the first nests known were discovered in April 2007 with three chicks each, in the eastern lowlands, in rank grass and reeds. The melanistic form of this subspecies was more common in the lowlands (< 1,500 m a.s.l) than in the highlands, but interbreeding of this and the typical form occurred in the lowlands. Movements of identifiable individuals through two highland grasslands indicated up to eight birds per day on passage, corroborating local knowledge that other raptors move into the highlands at the start of the dry season (April). Linear road counts indicated no harriers in the wooded highlands but up to 2.9 harriers 10 km−1 in lowland grasslands. Area counts gave an average of 6.5 harriers 100 km−2 in the grasslands and a breeding density of 1.21 nests 100 km−2. Given that preferred grassland and swamp habitat comprises c. 7% of the forest-dominated island of New Guinea, the global Papuan Harrier population can be no more than c. 3,600 birds and c. 740 breeding pairs. Wildfires peaked at 38 per month in the study area, occur throughout the dry season, and led to the loss of both nests. This suggests that many nests and prey may be lost at critical times and burning may be ultimately detrimental for the species. Grassland fires throughout Indonesia and Papua New Guinea are increasing with climatic warming and ENSO events, so we suggest that the Papuan Harrier may warrant a ‘Vulnerable’ conservation ranking due to small total population size and an accelerated reduction in habitat quality due to ongoing climate change.

Pallas’s Fish Eagle Haliaeetus leucoryphus (PFE) is sparsely distributed across a vast swathe of central, eastern and southern Asia, and is classified as ‘Vulnerable’ by IUCN on the basis of population size and reports of declines in many areas. Mongolia has long been considered a breeding stronghold for the species, but evidence to support this is unclear. Our objective was to assess the current distribution and status of the PFE in Mongolia to enable a more accurate assessment of the species’ conservation status, through collation of existing information from the historical literature, and a contemporary survey of historical sites and potential PFE breeding habitat. Thirty-four traceable locations were identified in the historical literature, of which breeding activity had been recorded in seven. Field surveys were conducted at a total of 77 sites throughout the study period (2005–2011) between April and October, including 21 of the historical PFE locations. PFE were observed at eight sites, all of which were historical PFEs locations, and no evidence of breeding activity was recorded. These findings suggest that Mongolia is not (and may never have been) a breeding stronghold for the PFE. The lack of eagles at 13 of 21 historical sites surveyed, coupled with a lack of sightings of birds at alternative locations is suggestive of a decline in site occupancy. Observations of juvenile eagles within one month of the spring thaw suggests that at least a proportion of Mongolian PFEs are breeding at southern latitudes, and future studies to establish these migratory linkages are warranted. These findings, coupled with evidence of declines in other parts of the PFE range indicate a need to re-evaluate the species’ conservation status, and in particular to determine the number of mature PFEs present in suitable habitat in the Indian Subcontinent and Myanmar between November and March.

Newly established populations of endangered species can help mitigate declines elsewhere and can be a valuable genetic reservoir. When these populations are located within anthropogenic habitats, they may also help mitigate the potential biodiversity loss created by urbanization. The Red-crowned Amazon Amazona viridigenalis is an endangered species that has become naturalized in multiple urban areas throughout the United States and Mexico, and these populations may currently outnumber the population within their historical habitat. While these urban populations may hold the majority of this endangered species, very few studies have analyzed the status and trends of this species, or of threatened parrots in general, in urban areas. Our study focuses on an urban Red-crowned Amazon population in the Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) of Texas: the only parrot population currently recognized as native to the United States. To determine a timeline of Red-crowned Amazon arrival and growth in the LRGV, we reviewed published literature and online citizen science databases. To quantify current population levels and trends, we conducted 412 surveys at all known roost sites throughout the LRGV from January 2016 through April 2019. We also quantified the ratio of adult and juvenile parrots at roosts. Our data suggest the species has been present in the LRGV consistently since the 1970s and showed rapid growth from the mid-1990s through roughly 2016. Roost counts suggest there is currently a minimum LRGV population of about 680 and the population has been relatively stable over the last 3.5 years. Productivity averaged 19% over three breeding seasons, suggesting successful internal reproduction. This study provides important baseline information for the management and conservation of Red-crowned Amazons in the region and provides a valuable timeline on the beginnings and trends of this recently established urban population of Amazona parrot.

Belding's Yellowthroat (Geothlypis beldingi) inhabits freshwater marshes the length of the state of Baja California Sur. A gap in occurrence from approximately 25°50′N to 24°50′N separates the subspecies goldmani to the north from beldingi to the south. According to BirdLife International's (2000, 2007) population estimates, the most important sites for the species are San Ignacio (537–648 birds) and La Purísima (203–450) in the north and San José del Cabo (219–480) and Punta San Pedro (70) in the south. Half of 12 presumed breeding sites in the north and five of 14 in the south were discovered within the last ten years. The species apparently no longer occurs at one historical site in the south. Since 2000, two records from Guerrero Negro and one from Bahía Tortugas approximately 140 km and > 200 km respectively northwest of the known breeding range demonstrate the species' dispersal ability. Belding's Yellowthroat is of utmost conservation concern, but the most recent conservation summaries exaggerated the species' plight, in particular by under-appreciating the bird's capacity for long-range dispersal and the ability of marsh habitat to regenerate quickly. Formal studies of the species should be undertaken and marsh creation should be incorporated in the state's development plans. Previous calls for reintroduction efforts should not be heeded, at least for the time being.

The Azure-rumped Tanager Tangara cabanisi is a globally threatened species restricted to the Pacific slope mountains of western Guatemala and Chiapas, Mexico. We studied the habitat use of this tanager on the southern slope of Atitlán volcano, department Suchitepéquez, Guatemala, applying distance sampling along transects in humid broadleaf forest and coffee plantations. The tanager was recorded in both habitat types, but encounter rates were significantly greater in broadleaf forest. The estimated density of tanagers in forest at 1,400–1,900 m was 33–93 birds km−2. Tanagers were recorded mainly in the upper vegetation strata of forest and shade coffee plantations. In coffee plantations tanagers used mainly tall solitary trees or the canopy of shade trees, which were dominated by Inga spp. The number of observations of feeding tanagers in Ficus aurea (Moraceae) indicated a high importance of this food source. The density of F. aurea trees and the encounter rate of tanagers were positively correlated. From 1987 to 2009 tanagers have been recorded at nine topographic units and a total of 16 sites in Guatemala, in the departments of San Marcos, Quetzaltenango, Sololá, Suchitepéquez, and Chimaltenango. We analysed the available habitat for tanagers in the potential area of distribution (1,170 km2), ranging from 900 to 1,900 m altitude and from the Mexican border in the West to the municipality of Pochuta in the East. Broadleaf forest covers 250 km2 or 21% of the potential area of distribution, and coffee plantations cover 800 km2 or 68%. Assuming that population density in prime habitat throughout the potential distribution range is similar to our study area at Atitlán volcano, total tanager population in Guatemala is estimated to be 8,250–23,250 birds. Our findings support the maintenance of the IUCN Red List status of Endangered EN B1a+b(ii,iii,v). To enhance the available habitat for Azure-rumped Tanager, we propose alterations in the shade management of coffee plantations, supported by incentives and certification programmes.

The Endangered Scaly-sided Merganser Mergus squamatus is amongst the most threatened of sea ducks (Mergini), with an estimated population of c.4,600 individuals based on a recent population estimate on the breeding areas in Primorye, Far East Russia, China and DPR Korea. For the first time, we present published and unpublished data on the wintering distribution in China and smaller numbers in Korea. We report 156 sightings during 2000–2011, together with 11 records of wintering sites using geolocation devices, from 16 provinces in China, with greatest concentrations in Jiangxi Province (97 reports from 18 sites). Both sources of data suggest some degree of winter site fidelity to fast-flowing clear water rivers 50–350 m wide, with riffles, islands or sand banks in hilly/mountainous areas with low levels of human disturbance. Surveys located a maximum of 370–770 birds, 8–17% of the estimated total population, confirming our poor knowledge of the species’ wintering distribution. There is an urgent need to define the wintering range of this species which is widely dispersed and nowhere abundant, but is threatened everywhere by dam construction, sand and gravel extraction, industrial and domestic pollution and fishing that threaten the integrity of the winter habitat. This also raises important conservation questions about how to protect such a species that is not highly concentrated and may require catchment scale nature conservation actions to effectively safeguard its current distribution.

Understanding the environmental drivers of demographic processes is a prerequisite for providing the evidence-based conservation guidance and management actions required to address management goals at population level. Human activities, to which most species are not adapted, are having an ever-increasing impact on the environment. Most policies and strategies focus on broad-scale conservation actions and disregard the fact that this type of action may not be adequate at local scale. In addition, even though the main conservation targets are well known, managers and practitioners lack an explicit framework in which to identify the varying requirements of site-specific conservation actions. Our aim was to provide an accurate tool for prioritizing specific local-scale conservation actions for endangered territorial birds. In this study we describe our proposed framework using a population of the endangered Bonelli’s Eagle Aquila fasciata as a case study. We identified the most relevant environmental drivers linked to demographic parameters (occupation, productivity and survival) at local scale shaping the dynamics of the Bonelli’s Eagle population in Catalonia (Spain). This information will be useful for designing specific local-scale conservation actions in eagles’ territories with low demographic parameter values. This is a good example of how applied research and achievable conservation practices are applicable to other Bonelli’s eagle populations and to those of other endangered raptors.

The ‘a‘o, or Newell’s Shearwater Puffinus newelli, is an endangered shearwater species endemic to the Hawaiian Islands, with 90% of the world population found on Kaua‘i. Understanding the breeding phenology of the species is vital for identifying key periods for colony management actions and the timing and exposure frequency to infrastructure threats such as powerline collisions and light attraction. We used a combination of direct burrow monitoring and remote cameras at multiple colonies between 2012 and 2019 for a detailed assessment of the breeding phenology for this species. Breeding adults started arriving at the burrow in mid-April, some (but not all) underwent a two-week exodus in May and returned at the end of May to commence incubation. Incubation continued until mid-July. The chick-rearing period ran until the end of September. Fledging peaked in October with the last birds fledging towards the middle of November. Breeding was not synchronised, with a 59-day gap between the first and last fledging birds. The importance of this information to management actions is discussed, particularly in terms of directing management actions to key periods of vulnerability to introduced predators (such as peak incubation, chick emergence, and exercising prior to fledging), the precise timing of fledgling fallout related to light attraction, and directing colony-monitoring actions and translocation projects. We also consider the utility of the data in assessing species composition of powerline collisions and collision risk. Future work using acoustic monitoring is recommended for assessing the phenology of non-breeders and prospectors at colonies.

Insular species, particularly birds, experience high levels of speciation and endemism. Similarly, island birds experience extreme levels of extinction. Based on a 2012 taxonomic assessment, historically there were four reed-warbler species in the Mariana Islands, the Guam Reed-warbler Acrocephalus luscinia (Guam), the Nightingale Reed-warbler Acrocephalus hiwae (Saipan and Alamagan), the Aguijuan Reed-warbler A. nijoi (Aguiguan or Aguijuan), and the Pagan Reed-warbler A. yamashinae (Pagan). Between 2008 and 2010 we surveyed for three of these species on Alamagan, Aguiguan, and Pagan. Our results indicate that reed-warblers are extinct on Aguiguan, likely extinct on Pagan, and only the Nightingale Reed-warbler on Alamagan and Saipan remains. We estimated the global population at between 1,019 and 6,356 birds (95% CI; mean estimate 3,688), which has declined by more than 1,000 birds since the first quantitative surveys were conducted in 1982, i.e. a 24% decline in 28 years. Camp et al. (2009) describe the status of the Nightingale Reed-warbler on Saipan, which has also declined. We estimated the Alamagan population to be between 428 and 1,762 birds in 2010 (mean estimate 946). Thus, the Alamagan population is ~25 % of the global population, and it has declined slightly since 2000. This decline was not significant but is concerning, especially given a similar decline on Saipan. Restoration and protection of tall-stature native and secondary forest could benefit the Alamagan population, as would similar conservation on Saipan that includes wetland habitat. After suitable restoration of forest and wetland habitats on Aguiguan, Guam and Pagan, individuals from Alamagan and Saipan could serve as founder populations. Careful consideration of the extent and habitat preference of individuals translocated to Tinian, where an unknown reed-warbler species previously occurred, is warranted.

Coastal wader species are sensitive to anthropogenic activity and habitat change along the coastal edge, which has been responsible for the decline in the populations of these birds. Correct management requires knowledge of the pattern and scale of genetic variation within and among populations as well as the relationships between population dynamics and genetic structure. We investigated these factors in the Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus from the Iberian coast to determine the degree of vulnerability of the endangered north-western population. We analysed the genetic structure and gene flow using a 631-bp fragment of the mitochondrial (mtDNA) control region and eight microsatellite markers in 113 unrelated individuals from 31 Iberian beaches. The results do not support the recent decline hypothesis because there was no evidence of a bottleneck, but they do support a population expansion along the Atlantic coast. We found no genetic structure or isolation-by-distance, in agreement with results recently observed on a continental scale. However, explanations for high continental gene flow, such as temporary breeding habitats and high breeding dispersal, do not seem to apply to the Galician population. Galician Kentish Plovers breed solely on beaches, a suitable and more predictable habitat during the breeding period than ephemeral inland wetlands, and female movements during the breeding period are uncommon, mainly due to the extremely low hatching success. This study suggests a demographic connectivity between Portuguese and Galician populations that is referred to as source-sink population dynamics, in which individuals dispersing from Portugal support the Galician coastal population. This dispersal pattern highlights the importance of supranational management plans to protect endangered species.

Although most Old World vulture species are declining or threatened in Asia and Africa, in Europe healthy vulture populations still exist. However, recent application of sanitary legislation that has greatly reduced the availability of animal carcasses is now a concern for conservationists. Until now, no studies have been undertaken to determine long-term dietary shifts in these species in Europe, but such studies are essential to optimising the resources invested in conservation and to anticipating the ecological needs of the target species. Here, we present a first attempt to examine the dietary variation in the Bearded Vulture Gypaetus barbatus from the late Pleistocene to the present day. Medium-size wild ungulates such as southern chamois Rupicapra pyrenaica, Spanish ibex Capra pyrenaica, red deer Cervus elaphus and roe deer Capreolus capreolus dominate the diet during the Pleistocene supporting the hypothesis that Bearded Vulture distribution was largely determined by the presence of such species. On the contrary, domestic species, such as sheep Ovis aries and goat Capra hircus, are the most common taxa in the diet in modern and historic periods. The actual dependence of the species on livestock, along with a restrictive sanitary legislation, threaten the conservation of this and other endangered avian scavengers in Europe. This new paleobiological conservation perspective confirms that efforts to establish a self-sustaining Bearded Vulture population should be enhanced by the widespread availability of medium-sized wild ungulates and by the presence of extensive and traditional grazing practices.