DOCSLIB.ORG

European Red List of Birds

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
European Red List of Birds European Red List of Birds Compiled by BirdLife International Published by the European Commission. opinion whatsoever on the part of the European Commission or BirdLife International concerning the legal status of any country, Citation: Publications of the European Communities. Design and layout by: Imre Sebestyén jr. / UNITgraphics.com Printed by: Pannónia Nyomda Picture credits on cover page: Fratercula arctica to continue into the future. © Ondrej Pelánek All photographs used in this publication remain the property of the original copyright holder (see individual captions for details). Photographs should not be reproduced or used in other contexts without written permission from the copyright holder. Available from: to your questions about the European Union Freephone number (*): 00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11 (*) Certain mobile telephone operators do not allow access to 00 800 numbers or these calls may be billed Published by the European Commission. A great deal of additional information on the European Union is available on the Internet. It can be accessed through the Europa server (http://europa.eu). Cataloguing data can be found at the end of this publication. ISBN: 978-92-79-47450-7 DOI: 10.2779/975810 © European Union, 2015 Reproduction of this publication for educational or other non-commercial purposes is authorized without prior written permission from the copyright holder provided the source is fully acknowledged. Reproduction of this publication for resale or other commercial purposes is prohibited without prior written permission of the copyright holder. Printed in Hungary. European Red List of Birds Consortium iii Table of contents Acknowledgements ...................................................................................................................................................1 Executive summary ...................................................................................................................................................5 1. Background ..........................................................................................................................................................6 1.1 The European context ....................................................................................................................................6 1.2 European birds, distribution and threat status ................................................................................................6 1.3 Objectives of the assessment ...........................................................................................................................9 2. Assessment Methodology .................................................................................................................................10 2.1 Global and regional assessment ....................................................................................................................10 2.2 Data sources .................................................................................................................................................10 2.3 Geographic scope .........................................................................................................................................11 2.4 Preliminary assessments ................................................................................................................................11 2.5 Production of population sizes and trends ....................................................................................................12 3. Results .................................................................................................................................................................13 3.1 Threatened status of birds .............................................................................................................................13 3.2 Status by taxonomic group ...........................................................................................................................19 3.3 Spatial distribution of species .......................................................................................................................20 3.4 Major threats to birds in Europe ..................................................................................................................24 3.5 Demographic trends .....................................................................................................................................25 3.6 Gaps in Knowledge ......................................................................................................................................26 4. Biodiversity protection in Europe and the EU ..................................................................................................27 4.1 European protection of bird species ..............................................................................................................27 4.2 Natura 2000 network ...................................................................................................................................28 4.3 Conservation management of birds in the EU ..............................................................................................31 4.4 Extinction risk versus conservation status in the EU .....................................................................................32 4.5 Red List versus priority for conservation action ............................................................................................33 5. Recommendations and future work ...................................................................................................................34 5.1 Policy recommendations ..............................................................................................................................34 5.2 Application of project outputs ......................................................................................................................35 5.3 Future work .................................................................................................................................................35 References ...............................................................................................................................................................36 Appendix 1. .............................................................................................................................................................38 Appendix 2. .............................................................................................................................................................59 Appendix 3. .............................................................................................................................................................60 iv Introduction We would like to say we are happy to be introducing the 3. The psychological and emotional value to humans. As European Red List of Birds, an exhaustive compendium more work is done on the negative effect of “nature of threatened species, but we are not happy. There should deficit disorder” and the positive effects of exposure not have to be a Red List. One of the reasons for having to nature – even on blood pressure, heart rate, and one is to make future Red Lists unnecessary by saving white cell count – someone may put a value on this and protecting the species involved. role soon. Meanwhile, we know that birds have been around for at least 150 million years, and that, for us, But why should WE bother to do that? you might ask. they are symbols of hope and of our connection to Here are a few reasons. the numinous. Imagine a world without birdsong, without birdflight, without the return of the birds in 1. Obvious economic value. For forest industries, avian spring. Now calculate the cost of the depression and pest control is estimated at billions of dollars annually. hopelessness that would ensue. Fruit farmers and crop farmers also benefit: such pests as codling moths and rats and mice are effectively Perhaps it is time to rewrite John Donne’s famous sermon: controlled by birds. Restoring seabird colonies adds markedly to the supply of fish, as bird excrement No bird is an island, entire of itself; every bird is a piece feeds the phytoplankton necessary for small fish. The of nature, a part of the ecosystem; if a single species be removal of birds from economic systems would have a extinguished, mankind is the less, as well as if a whole family catastrophic impact. were, as well as any manner of thy friends were; any bird species’ death diminishes me, because I am involved in the 2. Hidden economic value. Many, many bird species re- natural world. And therefore never send to know for whom plant forests by distributing nuts and seeds, hiding the Red List is compiled; it is compiled for thee. them in the ground and then failing to collect. Re- growing forests is one of the crucial elements in any First the birds, then us. Unless we pay attention, we’ll be overall carbon-uptake plan; here the role of birds is on the Red List next. Take note. essential. The jay and the nutcracker are veteran forest- planters. Margaret Atwood and Graeme Gibson. Honourary Presidents, Rare Bird Club, BirdLife International. v Foreword Wild birds, many of which This has been achieved through very important collaboration are migratory, represent an between Member States authorities, BirdLife partners and other extraordinary shared natural ornithological
Load more

Recommended publications
  • 'Alae 'Ula (Hawaiian Moorhen)
    NATIVE WATERBIRDS AVIAN NEWCOMERS These newly-created wetlands have been rapidly colonized by native waterbirds, Many non-native birds are attracted to the wetland restoration as well. The including four species that are highly endangered and found only in the Hawaiian long-necked white waders are Cattle Egrets, native to the Old World. Non-native Islands. The ‘Alae ‘Ula, or Hawaiian Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus sandvicensis), songbirds include the Common Myna, White-rumped Shama, two unrelated kinds of and Koloa Maoli, or Koloa Duck (Anas wyvilliana), have by now raised many broods cardinals, and three kinds of doves. Many of these exotic species probably became here, nesting among the native sedges. The Ae‘o, or Hawaiian Stilt (Himantopus established in recent decades as escaped cage birds. Before the accidental mexicanus knudseni), and the Nēnē, or Hawaiian Goose (Branta sandvicensis), stop introduction of mosquitoes in the 19th century and bird diseases they carry, by almost daily to rest and feed. In the morning and evening, watch for the ‘Auku‘u these coastal lowlands were home to native honeycreepers and other native or Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax). Long-distance migrants such songbirds, preserved abundantly in the fossil record of Makauwahi Cave. as the Kōlea or Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis( fulva) stop to rest and often winter here, as part of their annual 10,000-mile migration from breeding grounds in the Arctic to wintering sites in the tropics. Bones of all these bird species occur as fossils in the sediment of adjacent Makauwahi Cave, showing that they have thrived here for thousands of years.
    [Show full text]
  • An Inventory of Avian Species in Aldesa Valley, Saudi Arabia
    14 5 LIST OF SPECIES Check List 14 (5): 743–750 https://doi.org/10.15560/14.5.743 An inventory of avian species in Aldesa Valley, Saudi Arabia Abdulaziz S. Alatawi1, Florent Bled1, Jerrold L. Belant2 1 Mississippi State University, Forest and Wildlife Research Center, Carnivore Ecology Laboratory, Box 9690, Mississippi State, MS, USA 39762. 2 State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, 1 Forestry Drive, Syracuse, NY, USA 13210. Corresponding author: Abdulaziz S. Alatawi, [email protected] Abstract Conducting species inventories is important to provide baseline information essential for management and conserva- tion. Aldesa Valley lies in the Tabuk Province of northwest Saudi Arabia and because of the presence of permanent water, is thought to contain high avian richness. We conducted an inventory of avian species in Aldesa Valley, using timed area-searches during May 10–August 10 in 2014 and 2015 to detect species occurrence. We detected 6860 birds belonging to 19 species. We also noted high human use of this area including agriculture and recreational activities. Maintaining species diversity is important in areas receiving anthropogenic pressures, and we encourage additional surveys to further identify species occurrence in Aldesa Valley. Key words Arabian Peninsula; bird inventory; desert fauna. Academic editor: Mansour Aliabadian | Received 21 April 2016 | Accepted 27 May 2018 | Published 14 September 2018 Citation: Alatawi AS, Bled F, Belant JL (2018) An inventory of avian species in Aldesa Valley, Saudi Arabia. Check List 14 (5): 743–750. https:// doi.org/10.15560/14.5.743 Introduction living therein (Balvanera et al.
    [Show full text]
  • Phylogenetic Reanalysis of Strauch's Osteological Data Set for The
    TheCondor97:174-196 0 The Cooper Ornithological Society 1995 PHYLOGENETIC REANALYSIS OF STRAUCH’S OSTEOLOGICAL DATA SET FOR THE CHARADRIIFORMES PHILIP c. CHU Department of Biology and Museum of Zoology The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 Abstract. Strauch’s (1978) compatibility analysisof relationshipsamong the shorebirds (Charadriifonnes) was the first study to examine the full range of charadriifonn taxa in a reproducibleway. SubsequentlyMickevich and Parenti (1980) leveled seriouscharges against Strauch’s characters,method of phylogenetic inference, and results. To account for these charges,Strauch ’s characterswere re-examined and recoded, and parsimony analyseswere performed on the revised matrix. A parsimony analysison 74 taxa from the revised matrix yielded 855 shortesttrees, each length = 286 and consistencyindex = 0.385. In each shortest tree there were two major lineages,a lineageof sandpiper-likebirds and a lineageof plover- like birds; the two formed a monophyletic group, with the auks (Alcidae) being that group’s sister taxon. The shortest trees were then compared with other estimates of shorebird re- lationships, comparison suggestingthat the chargesagainst Strauch’s results may have re- sulted from the Mickevich and Parenti decisions to exclude much of Strauch’s character evidence. Key words: Charadrilformes; phylogeny; compatibility analysis: parsimony analysis; tax- onomic congruence. INTRODUCTION Strauch scored 227 charadriiform taxa for 70 The investigation of evolutionary relationships characters. Sixty-three of the characters were among shorebirds (Aves: Charadriiformes) has a taken from either the skull or postcranial skel- long history (reviewed in Sibley and Ahlquist eton; the remaining seven involved the respec- 1990). Almost all studies used morphology to tive origins of three neck muscles, as published make inferences about shared ancestry; infer- in Burton (1971, 1972, 1974) and Zusi (1962).
    [Show full text]
  • Proceedings of the United States National Museum
    i procp:edings of uxited states national :\[uset7m. 359 23498 g. D. 13 5 A. 14; Y. 3; P. 35; 0. 31 ; B. S. Leiigtli ICT millime- ters. GGGl. 17 specimeus. St. Michaels, Alaslai. II. M. Bannister. a. Length 210 millimeters. D. 13; A. 14; V. 3; P. 33; C— ; B. 8. h. Length 200 millimeters. D. 14: A. 14; Y. 3; P. 35; C— ; B. 8. e. Length 135 millimeters. D. 12: A. 14; Y. 3; P. 35; C. 30; B. 8. The remaining fourteen specimens vary in length from 110 to 180 mil- limeters. United States National Museum, WasJiingtoiij January 5, 1880. FOURTBI III\.STAI.:HEIVT OF ©R!VBTBIOI.O«ICAI. BIBI.IOCiRAPHV r BE:INC} a Jf.ffJ^T ©F FAUIVA!. I»l.TjBf.S«'ATI©.\S REff,ATIIV« T© BRIT- I!§H RIRD!^. My BR. ELS^IOTT COUES, U. S. A. The zlppendix to the "Birds of the Colorado Yalley- (pp. 507 [lJ-784 [218]), which gives the titles of "Faunal Publications" relating to North American Birds, is to be considered as the first instalment of a "Uni- versal Bibliography of Ornithology''. The second instalment occupies pp. 230-330 of the " Bulletin of the United States Geological and Geographical Survey of the Territories 'V Yol. Y, No. 2, Sept. G, 1879, and similarly gives the titles of "Faunal Publications" relating to the Birds of the rest of America.. The.third instalment, which occnpies the same "Bulletin", same Yol.,, No. 4 (in press), consists of an entirely different set of titles, being those belonging to the "systematic" department of the whole Bibliography^ in so far as America is concerned.
    [Show full text]
  • Sticta Arctica Degel.] Arctic Moon Habitat/Range: Over Mosses and Mossy Rocks in Alpine Localities; N Am – Eastern Eurasia, N to AK, S to OR
    STICTA/UMBILICARIA [Sticta arctica Degel.] Arctic moon Habitat/Range: Over mosses and mossy rocks in alpine localities; N Am – eastern Eurasia, N to AK, S to OR. Reaction: All spot tests negative. Contents: No lichen substances reported. Notes: Not recorded from B.C., but known to occur in southern coastal Alaska only a few kilometres from the B.C. border. Sticta fuliginosa (Hoffm.) Ach. Peppered moon (sooty leather lichen) Habitat/Range: Frequent over deciduous trees and conifers, also over mossy rock, in humid forests at lower eleva- tions throughout, except absent from boreal regions; incompletely circumpolar, N to AK, S to CA. Reaction: All spot tests negative. Contents: No lichen substances reported. Sticta limbata (Sm.) Ach. Powdered moon Habitat/Range: Infrequent over deciduous trees and especially mossy rock in open coastal forests at lower eleva- tions, also rare in intermontane (ICH zone); western N Am – eastern N Am – western Eurasia, N to AK, S to CA. Reactions: All spot tests negative. Contents: No lichen substances reported. Sticta weigelii (Ach.) Vainio Map 107 Fringed moon (Weigel’s leather lichen) Habitat/Range: Rare over trees and shrubs in open coastal forests at lower elevations; western N Am – eastern N Am – eastern Eurasia, N to AK, S to CA. Reactions: All spot tests negative. Contents: No lichen substances reported. Sticta wrightii Tuck. Map 108 Green moon Habitat/Range: Rare over conifers in semi-shady intermontane old-growth forests at lower elevations; western N Am – eastern Eurasia, N to AK, S to BC. Reactions: All spot tests negative. Contents: No lichen substances reported. Sticta sp.
    [Show full text]
  • The Taxonomy of the Procellariiformes Has Been Proposed from Various Approaches
    山 階 鳥 研 報(J. Yamashina Inst. Ornithol.),22:114-23,1990 Genetic Divergence and Relationships in Fifteen Species of Procellariiformes Nagahisa Kuroda*, Ryozo Kakizawa* and Masayoshi Watada** Abstract The genetic analysis of 23 protein loci in 15 species of Procellariiformes was made The genetic distancesbetween the specieswas calculatedand a dendrogram was formulated of the group. The separation of Hydrobatidae from all other taxa including Diomedeidae agrees with other precedent works. The resultsof the present study support the basic Procellariidclassification system. However, two points stillneed further study. The firstpoint is that Fulmarus diverged earlier from the Procellariidsthan did the Diomedeidae. The second point is the position of Puffinuspacificus which appears more closely related to the Pterodroma petrels than to other Puffinus species. These points are discussed. Introduction The taxonomy of the Procellariiformes has been proposed from various approaches. The earliest study by Forbes (1882) was made by appendicular myology. Godman (1906) and Loomis (1918) studied this group from a morphological point of view. The taxonomy of the Procellariiformes by functional osteology and appendicular myology was studied by Kuroda (1954, 1983) and Klemm (1969), The results of the various studies agreed in proposing four families of Procellariiformes: Diomedeidae, Procellariidae, Hydrobatidae, and Pelecanoididae. They also pointed out that the Procellariidae was a heterogenous group among them. Timmermann (1958) found the parallel evolution of mallophaga and their hosts in Procellariiformes. Recently, electrophoretical studies have been made on the Procellariiformes. Harper (1978) found different patterns of the electromorph among the families. Bar- rowclough et al. (1981) studied genetic differentiation among 12 species of Procellari- iformes at 16 loci, and discussed the genetic distances among the taxa but with no consideration of their phylogenetic relationships.
    [Show full text]
  • Morphology, Diet Composition, Distribution and Nesting Biology of Four Lark Species in Mongolia
    © 2013 Journal compilation ISSN 1684-3908 (print edition) http://biology.num.edu.mn Mongolian Journal of Biological http://mjbs.100zero.org/ Sciences MJBS Volume 11(1-2), 2013 ISSN 2225-4994 (online edition) Original ArƟ cle Morphology, Diet Composition, Distribution and Nesting Biology of Four Lark Species in Mongolia Galbadrakh Mainjargal1, Bayarbaatar Buuveibaatar2* and Shagdarsuren Boldbaatar1 1Laboratory of Ornithology, Institute of Biology, Mongolian Academy of Sciences, Jukov Avenue, Ulaanbaatar 51, Mongolia, Email: [email protected] 2Mongolia Program, Wildlife Conservation Society, San Business Center 201, Amar Str. 29, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, email: [email protected] Abstract Key words: We aimed to enhance existing knowledge of four lark species (Mongolian lark, Horned Alaudidae, larks, lark, Eurasian skylark, and Lesser short-toed lark), with respect to nesting biology, breeding, food habits, distribution, and diet, using long-term dataset collected during 2000–2012. Nest and Mongolia egg measurements substantially varied among species. For pooled data across species, the clutch size averaged 3.72 ± 1.13 eggs and did not differ among larks. Body mass of nestlings increased signifi cantly with age at weighing. Daily increase in body mass Article information: of lark nestlings ranged between 3.09 and 3.89 gram per day. Unsurprisingly, the Received: 18 Nov. 2013 majority of lark locations occurred in steppe ecosystems, followed by human created Accepted: 11 Dec. 2013 systems; whereas only 1.8% of the pooled locations across species were observed in Published: 20 Apr. 2014 forest ecosystem. Diet composition did not vary among species in the proportions of major food categories consumed. The most commonly occurring food items were invertebrates and frequently consumed were being beetles (e.g.
    [Show full text]
  • Status and Protection of Globally Threatened Species in the Caucasus
    STATUS AND PROTECTION OF GLOBALLY THREATENED SPECIES IN THE CAUCASUS CEPF Biodiversity Investments in the Caucasus Hotspot 2004-2009 Edited by Nugzar Zazanashvili and David Mallon Tbilisi 2009 The contents of this book do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of CEPF, WWF, or their sponsoring organizations. Neither the CEPF, WWF nor any other entities thereof, assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, product or process disclosed in this book. Citation: Zazanashvili, N. and Mallon, D. (Editors) 2009. Status and Protection of Globally Threatened Species in the Caucasus. Tbilisi: CEPF, WWF. Contour Ltd., 232 pp. ISBN 978-9941-0-2203-6 Design and printing Contour Ltd. 8, Kargareteli st., 0164 Tbilisi, Georgia December 2009 The Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) is a joint initiative of l’Agence Française de Développement, Conservation International, the Global Environment Facility, the Government of Japan, the MacArthur Foundation and the World Bank. This book shows the effort of the Caucasus NGOs, experts, scientific institutions and governmental agencies for conserving globally threatened species in the Caucasus: CEPF investments in the region made it possible for the first time to carry out simultaneous assessments of species’ populations at national and regional scales, setting up strategies and developing action plans for their survival, as well as implementation of some urgent conservation measures. Contents Foreword 7 Acknowledgments 8 Introduction CEPF Investment in the Caucasus Hotspot A. W. Tordoff, N. Zazanashvili, M. Bitsadze, K. Manvelyan, E. Askerov, V. Krever, S. Kalem, B. Avcioglu, S. Galstyan and R. Mnatsekanov 9 The Caucasus Hotspot N.
    [Show full text]
  • Free Download! the Trumpeter Swan
    G3647 The Trumpeter Swan by Sumner Matteson, Scott Craven and Donna Compton Snow-white Trumpeter Swans present a truly spectac- Swans of the Midwest ular sight. With a wingspan of more than 7 feet and a rumpeter Swans, along with ducks and geese, belong height of about 4 feet, the Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buc- to the avian Order Anseriformes, Family Anatidae. cinator) ranks as the largest native waterfowl species in T Trumpeters have broad, flat bills with fine tooth-like North America. serrations along the edges which allow them to strain Because the Trumpeter Swan disappeared as a breed- aquatic plants and water. The birds’ long necks and ing bird in the Midwest, several states have launched strong feet allow them to uproot plants in water up to 4 restoration programs to reintroduce it to the region. This feet deep. publication will provide you with background informa- Most Trumpeter Swans weigh 21–30 pounds, tion on the Trumpeter Swan’s status and life history, and although some males exceed the average weight. The on restoration efforts being conducted in the upper male is called a cob; the female is called a pen; and a swan Midwest. in its first year is called a cygnet or juve- nile. The Trumpeter is often con- fused with the far more common Tundra Swan (formerly Whistling Swan, Cygnus columbianus), the only other native swan found routinely in North America. Tundra Swans can be seen in the upper Trumpeter Swan Midwest only during spring and fall migration. You can distinguish between the two native species most accurately by listening to their calls.
    [Show full text]
  • Wild Geese in Captivity by Bob Elgas Big Timber, Montana
    Wild Geese in Captivity by Bob Elgas Big Timber, Montana Man has always been fascinated by, Wild geese were frequently depicted exists, and wild geese have become and has had a close association with, on ancient structures. Indeed, the increasingly popular with avicul­ wild geese. As a result of their ten- Swan goose of China, and the Greylag turists. dency to vocalize an objection to of Europe were domesticated eons Throughout the world there are nocturnal disturbances, the early ago, long before the dawn of written some 15 species of wild geese, with Romans utilized them as watchdogs.. history. Even today the fascination numerous sub-species, all of which are native to the northern hemi­ sphere. Interestingly, there are no true geese in the southern hemisphere. South America is represented by a specialized group known as sheld­ geese, while Africa and Australia are represented by a number of birds with goose-like characteristics. Sheld­ geese are actually modified ducks which, through the evolutionary process, have assumed goose-like similarities. One of the more obvious differences is the dimorphism of sexes characterized by sheldgeese ­ males being of completely different plumage than females. In true geese, both sexes are alike. Although the birds from the southern hemisphere are interesting in their own right, the differences are so great that they can­ not be classified with the true geese. The geese of the northern hemi­ sphere are divided into two groups ­ the genus Anset; which is representa­ tive of the true geese, and the genus A representative ofthe genus Anser is thispair ofEmperorgeese (Anser canagicus).
    [Show full text]
  • "Official Gazette of RM", No. 28/04 and 37/07), the Government of the Republic of Montenegro, at Its Meeting Held on ______2007, Enacted This
    In accordance with Article 6 paragraph 3 of the FT Law ("Official Gazette of RM", No. 28/04 and 37/07), the Government of the Republic of Montenegro, at its meeting held on ____________ 2007, enacted this DECISION ON CONTROL LIST FOR EXPORT, IMPORT AND TRANSIT OF GOODS Article 1 The goods that are being exported, imported and goods in transit procedure, shall be classified into the forms of export, import and transit, specifically: free export, import and transit and export, import and transit based on a license. The goods referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article were identified in the Control List for Export, Import and Transit of Goods that has been printed together with this Decision and constitutes an integral part hereof (Exhibit 1). Article 2 In the Control List, the goods for which export, import and transit is based on a license, were designated by the abbreviation: “D”, and automatic license were designated by abbreviation “AD”. The goods for which export, import and transit is based on a license designated by the abbreviation “D” and specific number, license is issued by following state authorities: - D1: the goods for which export, import and transit is based on a license issued by the state authority competent for protection of human health - D2: the goods for which export, import and transit is based on a license issued by the state authority competent for animal and plant health protection, if goods are imported, exported or in transit for veterinary or phyto-sanitary purposes - D3: the goods for which export, import and transit is based on a license issued by the state authority competent for environment protection - D4: the goods for which export, import and transit is based on a license issued by the state authority competent for culture.
    [Show full text]
  • Spectacled Eiders He Spectacled Eider Is Truly a Breed Apart
    WILDLIFE AND GLOBAL WARMING Navigating the Arctic Meltdown © GARY KRAMER/GARY KRAMER.NET SPECTACLED EIDERS he spectacled eider is truly a breed apart. A diving duck named for its distinctively T“spectacled” appearance, the eider spends much of the year in places so remote that its wintering grounds were only discovered in 1999, with the help of space-age satellite tracking. With its American population decimated by poisoning from ingesting lead shot, the eider was listed as a threatened species in 1993. Now global warming poses an additional peril to this unique bird, with the potential to alter both the eiders’ breeding and wintering habitats. A Rare Bird Pacific; more nutrients are flushed into the shallow seas by The spectacled eider is a medium-sized sea duck, slightly Alaska’s great river systems. These nutrients nourish algae smaller than a mallard, but with a stockier appearance. and microscopic plants called phytoplankton, which grow Males have a white back, a black breast and belly, a thick in huge numbers in the shallow waters. Algae are then orange bill and a green head, offset by large white eye eaten by tiny animals called zooplankton, which in turn patches bordered in black—the characteristic “spectacles” serve as food for larger animals. Particles of food, dead that give the bird its name. The female is a drab, speckled algae and nutrients “rain” down onto the sea floor, feeding brown, with less distinct tan spectacles. a huge array of clams, crustaceans and marine worms Each winter, the world’s entire population of spectacled throughout the year.
    [Show full text]