Birds more at risk; world failing in conservation

(Reuters) - The list of birds threatened with extinction has grown fractionally; a new sign that governments are failing to meet a 2010 global conservation goal, an annual review of birds showed on Thursday.

Adriatic Flyway Conference

Nine ornithologists from Serbia – members of League for Ornithological Action of Serbia, Bird Protection and Study Society of Vojvodina and Ecological Research Society ‘Mladen Karaman’ – have participated at the Conference on Eastern-Adriatic migration pathway ‘Adriatic Flyway’, held in Ulcinj in period April 14th-17th 2009. The Conference was organized by the foundation Euronatur from Germany.

Monitoring of Pygmy Cormorants in Belgrade

Pygmy Cormorant Phalacrocorax pygmeus is the smallest European species of cormorants. The SPEC list of species dependant on conservation at the European level (Species of European Conservation Concern) includes Pygmy Cormorant in the first group – globally threatened species with the inappropriate conservation status in Europe. During the last 15 years there was a continuous increase in number of Pygmy Cormorants at Sava River in Belgrade, until the wintering grounds hosted almost 7000 birds. This is 10% of the European population of this species and a great responsibility for the city and for the whole state.

75% of common European birds at risk from climate change

Climate change is already having a detectable impact on birds across Europe. This is the message from a group of scientists who have created the world’s first indicator of the impacts of climate change on wildlife at a continental scale. “We hear a lot about climate change, but our paper shows that its effects are being felt right now”, said lead author Dr Richard Gregory from the RSPB (BirdLife in the UK).