Facing Extinction

Paul Donald is Senior Scientist at BirdLife International, and before this was for a long time Principal Scientist at the RSPB. He fell in love with larks while doing his doctoral research at Oxford University on the ecology of Skylarks, and has since worked on all of the world's rarest larks, including the critically endangered Liben Lark and Raso Lark. He is author of the Poyser monograph on the Skylark and lead author of Facing Extinction, a book about the world's rarest birds. For many years he was Editor-in-Chief of the leading ornithological journal Ibis, and he is a recipient of the prestigious ZSL Marsh Award for Conservation Biology. Paul is an Honorary Research Fellow of the University of Cambridge and an Honorary Life Member of the British Ornithologists' Union.Debbie Pain is Director of Conservation at the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, and was formerly Head of International Research at the RSPB. Paul Donald is Principal Conservation Scientist at the RSPB and Editor-in-Chief of Ibis. Stuart Marsden is Reader in Conservation Ecology at Manchester Metropolitan University and Editor-in-chief of Bird Conservation International. Nigel Collar is Leventis Fellow in Conservation Biology at BirdLife International, and is the author of numerous books, papers and articles on threatened birds.Debbie Pain is Director of Conservation at the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, and was formerly Head of International Research at the RSPB. Paul Donald is Principal Conservation Scientist at the RSPB and Editor-in-Chief of Ibis. Stuart Marsden is Reader in Conservation Ecology at Manchester Metropolitan University and Editor-in-chief of Bird Conservation International. Nigel Collar is Leventis Fellow in Conservation Biology at BirdLife International, and is the author of numerous books, papers and articles on threatened birds.Debbie Pain is Director of Conservation at the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, and was formerly Head of International Research at the RSPB. Paul Donald is Principal Conservation Scientist at the RSPB and Editor-in-Chief of Ibis. Stuart Marsden is Reader in Conservation Ecology at Manchester Metropolitan University and Editor-in-chief of Bird Conservation International. Nigel Collar is Leventis Fellow in Conservation Biology at BirdLife International, and is the author of numerous books, papers and articles on threatened birds.

Almost two hundred species of birds have become extinct in the past 400 years, and a similar number today are in imminent danger of following them. The world's conservationists are leading the fight to prevent the demise of these remaining critically endangered birds, with a fair degree of success. This new book examines the process and issues concerning extinction - how and why it happens and what can be done about it. Whilst man is to blame for many of the causes, such as persecution and habitat loss, species have become extinct on a regular basis since life began. After several thought-provoking introductory chapters, the book showcases about 20 species on the brink of extinction from around the world and describes the work that is being undertaken to save them. Some are success stories, but a few are not. This is a subject close to the hearts of all birders and ornithologists and this book, written by a team of leading conservationists, will strike a chord in most of them.

An authoritative study of extinction in birds, with case studies of 20 critically endangered species and the research initiatives designed to save them.

Fully updated to include the latest information on the race to save the Spoon-billed Sandpiper, Liben Lark, Gurney's Pitta and many more

AcknowledgementsPreface1. The nature of rarity and the rarity of nature2. The distribution and causes of rarity3. Sociable Lapwing Vanellus gregarius4. Spoon-billed Sandpiper Eurynorhynchus pygmeus5. Brazilian Merganser Mergus octosetaceus6. Royal Cinclodes Cinclodes aricomae7. Bengal Florican Houbaropsis bengalensis8. Liben Lark Heteromirafa sidamoensis9. Yellow-crested Cockatoo Cacatua sulpurea10. Rarity and extinction on islands11. Stephens Island Wren Xenicu (Traversia) lyalli12. Tristan Albatross Diomedea dabbenena13. Raso Lark Alauda razae14. Po'ouli Melamprosops phaeosoma15. Saving the world's rarest birds16. Kakapo Strigops habroptila17. Asian vultures Gyps bengalensis, G. tenuirostris, G. indicus18. Philippine Eagle Pithecophaga jefferyi19. Alagos Curassow Mitu mitu20. Spix's Macaw Cyanopsitta spixii21. Madagascar Pochard Aythya innotata22. The lost and the found23. Gurney's Pitta Pitta gurneyi24. Forest Owlet Heteroglaux blewitti25. Slender-billed Curlew Numenius tenuirostris and Eskimo Curlew N. borealis26. Rarity and extinction in the futureReferences