by Reuters
Wednesday, 18 May 2016 18:59 GMT
OTTAWA, May 18 (Reuters) - More
than a third of all North American bird species are at risk of becoming extinct
unless significant action is taken, scientists who are part of a tri-nation
initiative said on Wednesday, adding that ocean and tropical birds were in
particular danger.
The study, compiled by the North
American Bird Conservation Initiative and the first of its kind to look at the
vulnerability of bird populations in Canada, the United States and Mexico, said
37 percent of all 1,154 species on the continent needed urgent conservation
action.
The governments of Canada, the
United States and Mexico created the North American Bird Conservation
Initiative in 1999.
More than half the species for
oceans and tropical forests are on a special watch list because of small and
declining populations, limited ranges and severe threats to their habitats.
"The outlook for oceanic
birds ... is the bleakest of any North American bird group," said the
report, which blamed invasive predators such as rats and cats on nesting
islands as well as overfishing, pollution and climate change.
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