220 European bird species at risk

More than 220 species of birds are at risk in Europe, a dire warning about the general state of the environment, a conservation group said today.

BirdLife International said a study showed that 43% of the 526 species of birds it assessed face an uncertain future, with some so threatened they may soon disappear from parts of Europe.

The most critically endangered in Europe were listed as Zino’s Petrel found in Madeira, the Balearic Shearwater which makes its home in Spain’s Balearic Islands and the Northern Bald Ibis, which has recently disappeared from Turkey but survives in Syria and Morocco.

“Birds are excellent environmental indicators and the continued decline of many species sends a clear signal about the health of Europe’s wildlife and the poor state of our environment,” said Clairie Papazoglou, head of BirdLife’s European Community office.

The study, which followed a similar one conducted 10 years ago, found that 45 bird species had declined during the decade and were deemed to have an unfavourable conservation status, meaning that their populations were declining, rare or localised in specific areas.

Papazoglou called on European Union member states to take immediate action to stop the decline of birds.

“We have to be very concerned about many species being in deep trouble. Even common birds as the house sparrow and starling are in rapid decline,” she said.

The report, which was collated with the help of volunteer ornithologists across the continent found the highest proportion of endangered species were in eastern and south-eastern European countries.