The era of human-induced extinctions has a new victim: a migratory shorebird called the Slender-billed Curlew (Numenius tenuirostris) has been declared almost certainly deceased. Like many migratory birds, the Slender-billed Curlew once bred in Siberia during the brief, but very productive, summer. When other birds flew south to the tropics or even Australia, this curlew species spent its winters around the Mediterranean. In general, Mediterranean birds have been doing better, perhaps because they had more time to adjust to the growth of human civilization on its banks. “Just as carbon in the atmosphere is a measure of international efforts to combat climate change, the status of migratory species is an indicator of the success of international efforts to conserve biodiversity,” she said.

Source: The North Africa Journal November 18, 2024 13:16 UTC