Set net fisheries are a global threat to diving seabirds, yet fine-scale data on interactions with fishing gear remain limited, particularly in small-scale inshore fisheries. The kawau tikitiki (Spotted Shag Phalacrocorax punctatus) is a coastal endemic of Aotearoa New Zealand that has undergone regional declines, with the Hauraki Gulf population now endangered. We combined a decade of population monitoring (2015–2025) with bird-borne GPS and dive logging, commercial set-net location data and coastal recreational set-net surveys to investigate population trends, foraging ecology, habitat use, and fisheries impacts. Nest counts declined by 7% per year over the study, halving the breeding population. Tracking of 14 adult birds (2023–2024) showed that foraging was restricted to inshore habitats within the Firth of Thames, with small core areas (50% utilisation distribution: 47.6 km²) along the southeastern coastline of the Firth and adjacent mussel farms. Birds performed frequent, shallow dives (mean depth 4.1 m; ~150–200 dives per day) with seasonal shifts in habitat use, including increased use of mussel farms in late summer and autumn. Spatial and temporal overlap with commercial set-net fisheries was pronounced, particularly during November–December when birds concentrated in shallow coastal habitats used by fishers. Over 30% of set-net fishing deployments occurred within the overall foraging range and analysis identified repeated foraging dives within 50 - 300 m of active nets. Surveys along the same coastline revealed widespread deployment of recreational set nets within core foraging areas during this high-risk period. Two tracked birds drowned during the study, providing direct evidence of bycatch mortality. Findings indicate that set-net fisheries represent a significant threat to the kawau tikitiki population in the Hauraki Gulf. Limiting fisheries mortality and protecting key roosting and breeding sites will be critical to recovering the population.

Species are considered endemic when restricted to a given region, but endemism can also arise after extirpation from a formerly broader range. Recognising this distinction matters for interpreting conservation status and defining national responsibilities. Here, I examine this distinction in two near-endemic bird species in northern South America: the Yellow-eared Parrot Ognorhynchus icterotis in Colombia and Ecuador, and the Hooded Antpitta Grallaricula cucullata in Colombia and Venezuela. The Yellow-eared Parrot is a clear case in which endemic status arises through regional extirpation. Applying extinction-date estimators to historical sighting records strongly supports the conclusion that the species was extirpated from Ecuador in the early 2000s. On this basis, I propose “Endemic (Relictual)” as the appropriate designation for the Yellow-eared Parrot in Colombia, and recommend this term for any taxon whose endemism results from extirpation elsewhere in its historically documented range. In contrast, the case of the Hooded Antpitta is far less certain. In Venezuela, the species is known only from two specimens collected in 1955 in the Tamá Massif, which were described as the subspecies venezuelana. However, the validity of this subspecies remains contested, and the extent of its range is unclear: it may be restricted to Venezuela or extend into the Eastern Cordillera of Colombia. Under this broader interpretation, there are no records of venezuelana in either region for the past three decades, although extinction-date estimators suggest persistence. Ultimately, targeted fieldwork is needed to determine whether the Hooded Antpitta survives in Venezuela or should instead be considered Endemic (Relictual) in Colombia. Together, these case studies highlight the importance of reappraising national occurrence records to better inform cross-border conservation efforts.

Anthropogenic litter poses a significant global threat to birds through ingestion, entanglement, and use of litter as nesting material, yet the literature lacks a quantitative understanding of bird–litter interactions and their drivers, constraining evidence-based management. This review examined how sample method, taxonomy, avian functional traits, and latitude varied with three commonly reported litter measures: frequency of occurrence, litter mass, and litter count. Although some patterns emerged, cross-study consensus was limited by imbalanced research effort (with seabirds dominating the dataset) and inconsistent data reporting and sampling methods. Despite this, analysis provided some insight into how avian functional traits influence bird–litter interactions. For example, wetland birds ingested litter less frequently than coastal birds. Birds with primarily aquatic lifestyles exhibited lower rates of both ingestion and entanglement than generalists. The frequency of use as nesting material was positively correlated with bird body mass. Although frequency of occurrence was the most used measure of bird–litter interactions, there was high variability and few apparent patterns across taxonomic groups or other variables. Overall, our results emphasise that advancing our understanding of bird–litter interactions and reducing the negative impact of litter on birds requires the use of multiple litter measures, more research on non-marine bird species, and improved method and data standardisation.

While intensive farming causes biodiversity declines and low-intensity agriculture can support some adapted wildlife, traditional shifting cultivation remains widely debated, with uncertainty over its impacts on biodiversity and the environment. As this practice is widespread in tropical regions, understanding its impacts is fundamental. The effects of active shifting cultivation and different types of fallow duration were investigated by (1) estimating Green Peafowl Pavo muticus density and (2) defining the species’ habitat use in Ngape and Minhla Township, Magway Region, west-central Myanmar, where the species inhabits a shifting-cultivation landscape. Density was estimated using distance sampling over 26 line transects. We used a Generalised Linear Mixed Model to investigate relationships between Green Peafowl numbers and land-use types: (a) active shifting cultivation (b) fallow land less than 6 years old, (c) fallow land aged 6–10 years, (d) degraded natural forest, and (e) paddy fields. The estimated population density across the entire study area was 0.29 calling males per km2, with most birds found in the southern study site at a density of 0.31 calling males per km2. GLMMs results indicated strong habitat use by Green Peafowl of intermediate successional fallow lands, particularly areas abandoned for 6–10 years, which provide suitable roosting shelter and effective foraging opportunities under relatively open canopy conditions. The species avoided areas under active shifting-cultivation, where food resources are limited, Green Peafowl also showed a negative association with degraded forest subjected to high disturbance from logging activities and associated human and chainsaw presence. Our findings indicate that conserving remaining natural forests by reducing logging pressure, together with managing low-intensity shifting cultivation that maintains intermediate successional habitats, can provide important habitats for Green Peafowl. Conservation strategies recognising and sustaining these successional stages may enhance biodiversity conservation while supporting community-based land-use systems.

The Resplendent Quetzal Pharomachrus mocinno de la Llave, a resident bird of Mesoamerican highland cloud forests, is currently listed as Near Threatened in the IUCN Red List of globally threatened species. The objective of the present study was to assess how much potential breeding habitat remains and to estimate populations as a function of this habitat. We use a satellite-derived data set for tropical moist forests combined with a digital elevation model, factored by forest patch size to assess remaining (protected/non-protected) nesting habitat over three time periods (1990, 2011, 2021), as well as rates of habitat loss over the past three decades. Based on a literature review, local expertise, models of habitat distribution, and the estimated density of individual birds, we provide an updated estimate of population sizes for the two subspecies of the Resplendent Quetzal. To help visualize the distribution of the species during the breeding season (January–June) we plot 20,269 unique records of eBird data. A total of 361,000 ha of potential breeding habitat (1,500–3,000 m ASL) has been lost between 1990 and 2021, with 51% of habitat lost for P. mocinno mocinno (southern Mexico to western Nicaragua) and 7% of P. mocinno costaricensis (Costa Rica and western Panama). We estimate the current population of Resplendent Quetzal in Mesoamerica to be 334,000 (± 26,000) individuals, approximately 55,500 P. m. mocinno and 277,500 P. m. costaricensis. We re-evaluated the IUCN Red List status for the species and both subspecies. While the habitat conditions of both subspecies are quite different, the study provides range-wide information that could support a possible upgrade in the IUCN Red List status of the species to Vulnerable (VU A2).

Like many migratory birds, Purple Martin Progne subis populations are in decline. Unlike most species, they are highly dependent on humans, with all contemporary breeding records of the eastern sub-species being confined to human-made structures. In this study, we provide an analysis of 10 years of nest success data from 2,041 Purple Martin nests at 6 sites in Western New York. To explain variance in nest productivity, we consider the relative roles of factors which can be manipulated by humans (including nest structure type, habitat around a colony and colony size) and stochastic factors beyond human control (including weather conditions and clutch size). We used random forest models in two different approaches to explain variation in the number of birds fledged from a nest. First, we tested a one-part fit, including the entire process from egg through fledgling stages. We then divided the nesting process into a two-part fit, with separate models to explain the egg to nestling stage, and the nestling to fledgling stage. While all three models highlighted the high importance of the initial clutch size, weather conditions, and date of nest initiation, the nestling to fledgling model was able to explain much more variance than the models including the incubation stage. By identifying and comparing relevant variables that impact Purple Martin nest success we hope to improve understanding of how to best conserve healthy Purple Martin populations for both professional wildlife managers and amateur Purple Martin nest box landlords.

In addition to habitat loss, hunting has been cited by several publications as one of the key reasons for the decline of some Numeniini species. In our study, we illustrate the significance of this activity using data on the former hunting and trade of Numeniini in the Carpathian Basin, and we also focus on spatial and temporal patterns of occurrence of the Slender-billed Curlew in the 19th and 20th centuries. According to 19–20th century descriptions, Numeniini were primarily hunted through the use of lesgödör, wich were sunken pits that were dug so that a hunter could conceal themselves from the birds; these were typically found around the alkaline lakes and wetlands of the Hungarian Great Plain. Hunters used stuffed or wooden decoy birds to increase their efficiency. Partly as a result of this activity, a total of 124 records of the Slender-billed Curlew Numenius tenuirostris were documented in the Carpathian Basin between 1845 and 1995. Most of the observations (90) were made in autumn, and 90.2% of these autumn records are from the period after 1925. In contrast, spring observations are mainly concentrated at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. A significant part of the data comes from Szeged (24.8%), Hortobágy (19.2%) and Kardoskút (16.8%), indicating the important role of alkaline lakes in the migration of this species. The decline in the population of the Slender-billed Curlew was already severe by the start of the 20th century, yet it was not until 1954 that it was afforded nature conservation protection, together with the other two Numeniini that occurred in the area and, by the 1990s, it had disappeared from the Carpathian Basin. While it is likely that the decline in the population of Numeniini was primarily caused by the loss and transformation of habitats, hunting potentially contributed to its decline to a lesser extent, mostly during the first few decades of the 20th century, when the population was declining rapidly.

A species’ choice of habitat critically influences its survival and reproductive success. Quantifying these preferences reveals key ecological requirements and underpins evidence-based conservation planning. The Temminck’s Tragopan Tragopan temminckii, a protected pheasant species inhabiting mountainous forests in China, exhibits distinct habitat requirements during winter. This study investigated its winter habitat use in replanted broadleaf forests within the Laojunshan Nature Reserve, Sichuan, from December 2024 to February 2025, with the aim of identifying key habitat features. The results showed that T. temminckii selected winter habitats at elevations between 1,310 and 1,860 m, on slopes averaging approximately 24°, predominantly on shady and semi-shady aspects, and in close proximity to streams. The birds preferred sites with taller trees, higher tree and bamboo canopy cover, and greater litter coverage compared with random sites. In contrast, they avoided areas with dense shrub cover and greater herb height, likely as a strategy to reduce predation risk, because dense shrub cover and tall herb constrain visibility and movement. These patterns suggest that tragopans prioritise thermal shelter, foraging efficiency and visual concealment from predators during winter. We suggest that the conservation and restoration of successional broadleaf forests with moderate canopy cover and open understorey conditions would benefit the winter survival and population persistence of this species.

Migratory landbirds face increasing threats throughout their annual cycle, including along migration routes and at stopover sites. The European Turtle-dove Streptopelia turtur, listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN, suffers from habitat loss and from intense hunting pressure along its migratory flyways. While migration routes of western European breeding Turtle-doves are relatively well studied, those of populations of eastern origin remain poorly documented. This study presents the first detailed tracking of European Turtle-doves migrating from and through Central Asia and the Middle East into East Africa. Twenty-six individuals (mostly juveniles) were tagged with GPS devices in Azerbaijan in July 2023 (n = 10) and in Israel in autumn 2022 and 2023 (n = 16), of which 16 initiated southward migration, with two individuals providing data covering complete autumn migrations to South Sudan and Sudan. Their migration tracks included long non-stop flights of up to 752 km, including long sea and desert crossings. The Nile River served as a migration corridor across the desert for the tagged turtle-doves. During migration, the tagged turtle-doves stopped over in cultivated land along the Nile River. Findings from this study informed turtle-dove hunting policies in Israel.

The Red-breasted Goose Branta ruficollis is a globally threatened migratory species that faces increasing pressures from habitat loss and climate change along its flyway between Siberia and the Black Sea. This study presents detailed insights into the annual migratory patterns of the species based on GPS telemetry data collected between May 2019 and February 2023. We tracked 41 individuals fitted with GPS transmitters, of which 23 provided data spanning at least one full migratory season. The resulting dataset of over 150,000 GPS positions revealed fine-scale patterns of seasonal movement across a total area of 3.6 million km2. There was a nearly equal temporal division among seasonal phases. At the population level, the spring and autumn migration windows lasted 96 and 97 days, respectively, while individual completed journeys averaged 93.0 days in spring and 98.3 days in autumn. Migration pathways featured distinct, non-overlapping spatial corridors and key staging areas identified in northern Kazakhstan and the Orenburg region of Russia. Red-breasted Geese travelled an average of 17,725 km annually, with peak movement in April–May and September–November. Wintering birds occupied three discrete core areas within a larger wintering extent (116,751 km2): coastal Romania (with adjacent areas in Bulgaria and Ukraine), the Sivash area in Crimea, and the Veselovskoie region in southern Russia. The data also enabled inferences about breeding success and moulting periods, confirming high breeding site philopatry and no evidence of major previously undocumented wintering areas. The findings directly supported conservation planning, including the designation of temporary hunting restrictions in priority staging areas. This study highlights the conservation value of GPS tracking for delineating core and critical seasonal habitats, assessing threats, and informing flyway-scale management strategies essential for the long-term survival of the Red-breasted Goose and other long-distance migratory waterbirds.

Understanding migratory patterns helps guide conservation efforts in response to environmental change by identifying the breeding populations that contribute to different non-breeding regions. To examine these patterns, we analysed stable hydrogen isotope (δ²H) values in feathers of birds captured at nine non-breeding sites across Mexico to map the migratory connectivity of the Orange-crowned Warbler Leiothlypis celata, which breeds in Canada and the United States (US). We integrated isotopic assignments with long-term Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) and eBird abundance data and found weak migratory connectivity (MC = 0.18), showing that most non-breeding sites host a mixture of individuals from six breeding clusters. However, a northwestern breeding population exhibited strong connectivity, suggesting a possible crosswise migration to an easternmost non-breeding region in Mexico. Additionally, we found divergent demographic trajectories among populations, with those along the Pacific Coast showing severe declines. Mixing of populations with non-uniform trends on the non-breeding grounds hinders effective conservation by limiting the detection of population-specific declines. Our study emphasises the importance of analysing trends at the population level rather than the species level. We show that species-wide conservation designations may be insufficient, while our data-driven clusters provide a more effective framework for identifying management units.

This study provides the first comprehensive analysis of morbidity and mortality in Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus and Great White Pelican P. onocrotalus in Greece. Data were collected over a 24-year period (1998–2021), using specific questionnaires to highlight the temporospatial, age and aetiological causes of morbidity and mortality to advance conservation efforts. Overall, 316 incidents of morbidity/mortality and 23 mass mortality events were recorded while the two species differed significantly in all parameters of morbidity/mortality. Annual rate of mortality was higher in Dalmatian Pelican (44.5 deaths per annum) than the Great White Pelican (2.4 deaths per annum). Dalmatian Pelican mortality tended to occur more during late winter/early spring and late summer/autumn, while Great White Pelican mortality occurred during autumn, matching with the presence of pre-migratory concentrations and migration. Dalmatian Pelican tended to be found dead in areas where pelicans congregated (e.g. colonies, feeding, wintering) while Great White Pelican were equally found in both areas with and without pelican congregations. A total of 30% of Great White Pelican mortality/morbidity happened in south Greece away from pelican areas and along the migration route whilst adult Dalmatian Pelicans and juvenile Great White Pelicans were the prevalent age groups. In Dalmatian Pelicans, 70% of mortality accumulated in the mass mortality events, while the sympatric Great White Pelican was unaffected during these events. Dalmatian Pelican mortality was mostly attributed to environmental (biotoxin) and infectious (viral/avian influenza) causes, while Great White Pelican mostly to anthropogenic (trauma/illegal shooting). Specific causes in Dalmatian Pelican mortality showed significant seasonal variation with viral causes in spring, biotoxin and entrapment in autumn, and illegal shooting and emaciation in winter. In Great White Pelicans, illegal shooting tended to occur in spring. A total of 25% of rescued Dalmatian Pelicans were released. Limitations of this study were that only 1% of the dead pelicans underwent a veterinary post-mortem investigation, in 26% of the dead pelicans the cause was completely unknown, the sex was not determined, and the age remained unidentified in a high percentage (43-46%) of individuals. In future, more veterinary input and a national preparedness plan for mass mortality events are needed.

In this study, we assess how well globally-threatened bird species in Latin America are currently represented within existing protected areas, and we identify conservation priority areas for the most under-protected species. We used publicly available data to map the Area of Habitat (AOH) for each of the 129 land birds in South America listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as either Critically Endangered, Endangered, or Vulnerable (the latter only under criterion D – those with the smallest populations or ranges). We then set two minimum conservation targets for each species: first a population-based target that estimates the proportion of the AOH needed to conserve 1,000 mature individuals (or the total population if smaller) to prevent extinction; and second, an area-based target that estimates the amount of habitat needed to sustain the long-term conservation of each species. The AOH maps were then overlaid with existing protected areas to identify those species that do not yet have their minimum conservation targets met. Using this approach, we identified 10 species that require additional protection to avoid extinction, and a further 45 species that need expanded protection for sustained conservation. Fortunately, most species already met their target. We also ran a prioritization analysis to identify and map the most important places for meeting the goals of the under-protected species. We found that just 661.3 km2 is needed to meet population-based targets for the ten species of greatest concern, and 14,363 km2 is needed to meet area-based targets for all under-protected species combined. These areas represent <0.1% of the region’s land area and are mostly concentrated in five countries (Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Brazil). Expanding reserves to cover these areas should result in both improved conservation outcomes and Red List status for these species.

Offshore marine protected areas (“MPAs”) are vital for conserving highly mobile marine species such as seabirds, yet their effectiveness depends on the degree of spatial overlap with species’ at-sea distributions. The Galápagos Islands are an important nesting habitat for seabirds, but the level of protection provided by existing MPAs has not been evaluated. Here we analysed 13 years of GPS and satellite tracking data from seven seabird species, encompassing over 1.2 million locations, to quantify overlap between their breeding-season utilisation distributions and the Galápagos Marine Reserve (“GMR”) and Hermandad Marine Reserve (“HMR”). Near-coastal foragers, including Blue-footed Boobies Sula nebouxii and Swallow-tailed Gulls Creagrus furcatus, had over 95% of their core and home ranges within the GMR, whereas the widely-ranging pelagic species Waved Albatross Phoebastria irrorata and Galápagos Petrel Pterodroma phaeopygia had less than 10% overlap with MPAs; the HMR (created in 2022) added minimal coverage. Five of the seven species had <25% overlap with the combined areas of the MPAs. These findings indicate that although current MPAs adequately protect inshore and short-ranging species, they offer limited coverage for widely-ranging pelagic seabirds, underscoring the need for expanded spatial and temporal conservation planning to enhance outcomes.

The Goliath Heron Ardea goliath is the largest heron in the world, and has a range spanning sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, and the Indian subcontinent. Despite its large range, its breeding distribution is poorly known, especially in isolated populations outside Africa. We assessed breeding distribution by collating records from literature, citizen science databases and other sources. We located 216 breeding records from 22 countries between 1881 and 2026, most of which came from southern Africa and, to a lesser extent, East Africa. Records from central and West Africa were scarce. We identified the first evidence of breeding in Iran in nearly 50 years, but the status of this isolated population remains uncertain. We found no breeding records in the Sundarbans of India, but repeated observations there suggest that nesting may have gone undetected in this remote wetland landscape. Our assessment identified substantial information gaps in parts of Africa and showed that the remnant populations in the Mesopotamian Marshes and Sundarbans warrant further study in the face of conservation threats.

Using call playback, we present results on the density of Congo Peafowl Afropavo congensis and Forest Francolin Peliperdix lathami in Lomako Yokokala Faunal Reserve (LYFR) in the north-western Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) south of the Congo River. Both species responded to playback from their night roosts in trees. Our results provided an estimate of 2.8 (95% CI: 1.8–4.1) calling locations per km2 of Congo Peafowl (24 records), and we observed group numbers ranging from 1 to 8 individuals (n = 6). Given the number of records of Congo Peafowl collected by rangers throughout the reserve (3,625 km2), and the vast majority being primary forest, we suggest the presence of a large viable population. Moreover, we present notes on the group composition and question its monogamous status in contemporary literature. We estimated an average density of 5.6 (95% CI: 4.1–7.3) males per km2 (51 records) of the Forest Francolin and regard this as the density of male territories.

Climate change alters species distributions, and range-restricted species are particularly vulnerable. Our study used species distribution modelling under climate change for two montane bird species categorised as Near Threatened by the IUCN. The Drakensberg Rockjumper Chaetops aurantius and Mountain Pipit Anthus hoeschi are confined to the high-elevation mountains of South Africa and Lesotho. Understanding how their life histories mediate climate vulnerability is essential for conservation prioritisation. We used ensemble species distribution models within the BIOMOD 2 framework to predict changes in habitat suitability for both species under the high-emission SSP5-8.5 scenario for the years 2050–2080, relative to the current climate (1970–2000). The models predicted that both species are likely to experience contractions in their distribution ranges by the 2080s, with suitable climatic space persisting primarily in high-altitude areas of Lesotho and lower Drakensberg slopes. The Drakensberg Rockjumper exhibited severe declines, with mean suitability decreasing by 36.4% by 2050 and 63.5% by 2080, while the Mountain Pipit showed moderate declines of 4.4% and 18.9%, respectively. In terms of variable importance, the Drakensberg Rockjumper distribution is limited by temperature (22.4% importance), whereas the Mountain Pipit is limited by elevation (32.7%). Elevation-dependent patterns showed greater losses at lower elevations (1,500–2,000 m) for both species, with the Lesotho Highlands (>2,500) serving as climate refugia. Even within optimal high-elevation habitats, the Drakensberg Rockjumper’s distribution is projected to contract further. Its greater vulnerability to range loss than the Mountain Pipit is directly attributable to its sedentary life history and narrow habitat specificity, which limit its capacity to track shifting climatic conditions. We recommend reassessing the Drakensberg Rockjumper’s IUCN status, prioritising protection of high-elevation refugia, and considering assisted colonisation as a last-resort conservation measure. Future studies on physiological and ecological constraints will enhance understanding of their capacity to cope with climate change.