Millions of missing birds
By Luke Rich

Luke Rich, an Audubon Society bird walk leader, will present the highlights of the first ever tri-national assessment of the bird populations of North America, with an emphasis on Mexico.

Canada, Mexico and the continental US are home to 882 native landbird species, more than one third of which depend on habitats in more than one country. They enrich the cultures of all three countries and serve as a sensitive barometer of change to the environment. We now face unprecedented loss of bird populations and the threat of extinction of many species.

Partners in Flight, who carried out the assessment, identified 148 endangered species in need of immediate attention. Of those, there are 44, mostly in Mexico, with very limited distribution and a great risk of extinction. There are 80 tropical residents dependent on deciduous, highland and evergreen forests in Mexico and 24 species that breed in temperate zone forests, grasslands and arid habitats that are also threatened.

A total loss of 800 million birds from nearly all habitats has been registered. To give just one example, the population of the northern flicker, a common bird in all three countries, has declined by more than 50 percent in the past 40 years.
Action is needed in each country, but the most urgent needs are in Mexico, where tropical forests important to many birds are threatened by clearing for agriculture, livestock production, timber, and urban  development. Many species are also threatened by hunting or trapping for the cage-bird trade.

The lecture will present pictures of endangered species, maps showing the  distribution of the birds that fly among the three countries and suggestions the report makes for controlling the hazards that endanger bird populations.
Partners in Flight emphasize that conserving our shared North American birds will require a continental, and ultimately hemispheric, perspective and a commitment to international cooperation.

Come for a lively discussion of this compelling report and learn how vital Mexico is to the well-being of North America’s bird population.

The lecture is free to Audubon members, 6660 pesos for non-members.


Audubon lecture
Saving Our Shared Birds
Monday, March 12, 3pm
Teatro Santa Ana
La Biblioteca