New assessment covers all US
species and subspecies - Hawai'i of particular concern
October 2012. A new study on
the conservation status of American birds completed by American Bird Conservancy (ABC) is the first ever
published to include the full range of bird diversity in all 50 U.S. states and
dependent territories. The study finds that more than one third of these birds
are in need of conservation attention. More details, including a complete bird
list with conservation rankings, can be found at abcbirds.org/checklist.
While the conservation status
of bird species has been widely researched in the past, the new study is the
first national assessment to also rank the status of subspecies: regional forms
of species that differ in appearance, and sometimes in habitat choice and
migration patterns.
"By looking beyond the
species we can better gauge the conservation status of the total diversity of
birds in the United States," said the study's principal author and
American Bird Conservancy Vice President, Mike Parr. "There are more than
twice as many subspecies recognized as there are full species, so these data
provide a more complete picture than we have ever had previously. In addition,
birds that are today classed as subspecies may tomorrow be re-classified as
full species when more information comes to light.
This study will help make sure
we don't miss these birds as we move forward with conservation programs. While
the good news is that most of the highest scoring (most "At-Risk")
birds are already protected by the Endangered Species Act, there are definitely
some surprises in here too," Parr said.
"ABC's Conservation
Ranking of bird subspecies is a major contribution to our understanding of bird
conservation priorities. This assessment elevates these taxa to genuine
elements of biodiversity that deserve more attention, and reinforces the fact
that we have bird conservation work to do essentially anywhere you look in the
United States" said Terry Rich, National Coordinator for Partners in
Flight (PIF), a cooperative effort concerned with conserving bird populations
in the Western Hemisphere.
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