Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Report Highlights 10 Rare Species With 'No Room To Roam'

Hawai'i's Palila the Focus of Intensive Conservation Recovery Effort

(Washington, D.C., November 19, 2015) Habitat loss and conversion, dams, roads, and other developments are among the leading causes of wildlife habitat fragmentation, according to a new report by the Endangered Species Coalition. The report, No Room to Roam: 10 American Species in Need of Connectivity and Corridors, highlights 10 rare or endangered species that lack safe, navigable corridors to connect them to important habitat or other populations. (A slideshow and links to photos and species-specific info can be viewed and downloaded from the Coalition's website.)

The report includes the endangered Palila, a rare Hawaiian finch-billed honeycreeper that used to be distributed widely on the island of Hawai'i. Approximately 2,000 birds remain, and are limited to the southwestern slope of Mauna Kea—less than 5 percent of the species' historical range. This bird depends on the mamane tree and moves up, down, and around the mountain to find seed pods to eat. Habitat destruction and continued degradation by non-native sheep and other hoofed mammals have isolated the population from other areas of potential habitat.

American Bird Conservancy nominated the Palila because although conservationists know which management actions are required to protect this species, there are insufficient resources to implement them.

"ABC is working with the state of Hawaiʻi's Division of Forestry and Wildlife and the Mauna Kea Forest Restoration Project to restore the Palila's native mamane forest and protect the bird's nesting habitat from non-native predators," said Chris Farmer, ABC's Hawai'i Program Director. "However, the sheep remaining in the Palila's legally designated critical habitat on Mauna Kea need to be removed as soon as possible so that forest restoration and regeneration can be accelerated, and the Palila's recovery can begin."

Recovering this rare species' population is just one of the conservation priorities of ABC's Hawai'i Program. Other efforts—all conducted with on-the-ground partners—include establishing a new population of endangered Millerbirds and the recent translocation of endangered Hawaiian Petrels to form a new colony.

No Room to Roam also features the Florida panther, which numbers less than 200 adult individuals, yet a record 25 of these cats were killed crossing roads in 2014 alone. Vehicle collisions are also taking a toll two other species featured in the report: the California tiger salamander and the spotted turtle.

The prehistoric pallid sturgeon once swam the entire length of the Missouri River system from Montana to New Orleans, but the population has dwindled to a few hundred fish as its upstream migration to spawning areas is blocked by dams on the Missouri and Yellowstone Rivers. The migration route of the Chinook salmon of the Pacific Northwest (a species that received an honorable mention in the report) is also impeded by dams. Other species featured in No Room to Roam include the Karner blue butterfly, the Lesser Prairie-Chicken, the Yellowstone grizzly bear, the eastern prairie fringed orchid, and the Mexican gray wolf.

"Habitat loss and fragmentation are the biggest drivers of species decline and extinction," said Leda Huta, executive director of the Endangered Species Coalition. "Fortunately, there are actions that wildlife management agencies and the public can take to better connect these species. We owe it to our future generations of Americans to protect the special places that wildlife need to survive and migrate."

Coalition member groups nominated wildlife species in the report. A committee of distinguished scientists reviewed the nominations and decided which species should be included in the report. The report also includes everyday actions that people can take to help promote habitat connectivity, such as urging land management agencies to protect important wildlife corridors and supporting efforts to add wildlife crossings to roadways.

The Coalition produces a "Top 10" report annually, focusing on a different theme each year. Previous years' reports are also available on the Coalition's website.

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American Bird Conservancy is the Western Hemisphere's bird conservation specialist—the only organization with a single and steadfast commitment to achieving conservation results for native birds and their habitats throughout the Americas. With a focus on efficiency and working in partnership, we take on the toughest problems facing birds today, innovating and building on sound science to halt extinctions, protect habitats, eliminate threats, and build capacity for bird conservation.