Resort development and coastal beach erosion have led to declines in beach breeding habitat for the near-threatened Malaysian Plover (Charadrius peronii) in the Gulf of Thailand. Semi-natural saltflats may provide supplementary nesting areas. We compared the environmental conditions, incubation behaviour and nesting success of plovers breeding on sandy beaches and saltflats in Thailand. In total we monitored 21 and nine nesting attempts in 2004 (beaches and saltflats, respectively) and 26 and 22 nesting attempts in 2005. Despite higher air temperatures in the saltflats (P < 0.0001), we detected no significant differences in nest attendance (P = 0.542 and P = 0.885 for 2004 and 2005, respectively), number of incubator changes between parents (P = 0.776 and P = 0.823) or number of parental nest departures (P = 0.087 and P = 0.712) during 120 incubation observations on 55 nests. There was also no difference in hatching success between beaches in 2004 (beach = 0.65, saltflat = 0.55; P = 0.692, n = 26) and 2005 (beach = 0.46, saltflat = 0.35; P = 0.539, n = 41). These results suggest that saltflats may provide nesting habitat for Malaysian Plovers and could help enhance overall hatching success rates by reducing nesting densities on beaches. Although there are few remaining intact saltflats in coastal Thailand, there are currently vast areas of abandoned tiger prawn aquaculture ponds that could be rehabilitated into saltflats at relatively low cost. Given the large area of disused aquaculture ponds throughout Thailand and South-East Asia and the substantial human pressure on coastal habitats, there could be considerable conservation benefits to the restoration of aquaculture ponds.

We documented the geographical distributions and habitat selection of Neotropical migrants in South America along a successional gradient in the lowlands of Amazonian Peru, and along elevational gradients in the Andes of south-eastern Peru and of eastern and western Ecuador. Most of the 30 species of northern migrants that regularly winter in South America appear to be concentrated in the western edge of the Amazon basin and on the lower slopes (2,000 m) of the Andes. Migrants in a lowland site were documented more often in early successional habitats than in primary forest, and no species were confined to mature forest habitats. The number of species and relative abundance of migrants in primary forest, however, increased with elevation up to about 1,200 m and decreased above that elevation. Several species (Contopus borealis, Dendroica cerulea and Wilsonia canadensis) were largely confined to primary forest in the 1,000-2,000 m elevational zones in both Peru and Ecuador. Migrants on the western slope of the Ecuadorean Andes included several species that primarily winter further north. In general, the species richness of migrants and residents was inversely correlated, both on a biogeographical and a local scale. Migratory birds are most likely to be adversely affected by deforestation of the lower slopes of the Andes, which is proceeding at a rapid pace. The impact of human alterations of Amazonian forests will be greater on resident than on migratory birds. The loss of mid-successional lowland forests, however, might have a negative effect on several species.

Central America is a region of great avian diversity, and the highlands of Costa Rica and Panama are particularly rich in endemic bird species. Continuing deforestation has destroyed large parts of the birds' natural habitats in this region. The ability of birds to use non-forest habitats will ultimately determine their vulnerability to further deforestation, and knowledge of their habitat use is therefore essential in planning conservation strategies. We examined the effects of deforestation on the abundance of restricted-range bird species in the southern Costa Rican part of the Talamanca mountain range. We used line-transect distance sampling to obtain densities in forest and non-forest habitats. Most (22/28) restricted-range species were recorded in forest and non-forest. Of 28 restricted-range species, 13 species showed a clear preference for forest and 8 for non-forest, and total numbers were one-and-a-half times higher as high in forest compared with non-forest. Of the 10 most common species, one was more abundant in non-forest and seven were more abundant in forest. We conclude that forest is the primary habitat for the majority of the restricted-range avifauna, and their dependence on forest makes them particularly vulnerable to deforestation. Adequate protection of the forests in these mountains is therefore the best assurance of the long-term survival of these birds.

Detecting and quantifying threats and researching and implementing management actions are key to improving the conservation status of endangered species. Bibliometric analysis can constitute a useful tool for the evaluation of such questions from a long-term perspective. Taking as a case study the Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus in Spain, we tested relationships between population dynamics, research efforts, existing threats and conservation milestones. The population growth of the species (from 206 pairs in 1976 to 2,068 in 2011) was parallelled by the increase in the total number of publications, the number of articles in SCI journals and the number of published works dealing with aspects of conservation, threats and management. These results are discussed in terms of cause-effect relationships taking into account that the influence of other non-mutually exclusive factors could also probably explain such associations. Similarly, we analysed the trend of the Cinereous Vulture breeding population with respect to different threats and indices of food availability, obtaining a positive correlation with the increase in big-game hunting bags in Spain. With respect to conservation milestones, we concluded that the current situation is positive in terms of the protection of the species and its habitat, with the situation in relation to food availability being unclear. Finally, we reviewed the main conservation actions that have been taken for the species in Spain and how these have been progressively modified based on new scientific and technical evidence, as an example of adaptive management applied to conservation.

The mountains of south-eastern Nigeria are a western extension of the Cameroon mountain range, which is classified as an endemic bird area (EBA). Unlike its eastern extension in Cameroon, most of the ornithological surveys in the western extension of the Cameroon highlands in Nigeria have produced only limited checklists and inventories. There is a clear need for quantitative baseline data so that conservation problems can be identified. Twenty line transects covering a total transect length of 28.8 km were used to survey five sites (Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary, Oban Division and Okwangwo Division of Cross River National Park, Sankwala Mountains and Mbe Mountains) in the westernmost extension of the Cameroon Mountains EBA in south-eastern Nigeria. Vegetation measurements were taken to control for the potential confounding effect of variation in vegetation density and structure on detectability of birds between sites. The 193 bird species recorded in Afi, 158 in Sankwala, 124 in Oban, 100 in Mbe and 73 in Okwangwo Division included most of the Cameroon highlands restricted range species. The results show that the mountains of south-eastern Nigeria are important parts of the Cameroon EBA, particularly Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary. However these sites are threatened by fire and livestock grazing on the hilltops, shifting agriculture on the hillsides and lowlands, and logging for timber in some parts, as well as wildlife hunting for bushmeat.

Most studies of Corncrakes have been conducted in grasslands used for hay-cutting, and earlier hay-cutting has been suggested as the main cause of population decline in this species. Less is known about habitat preferences in relation to other land-uses and landscape structure. This paper investigated habitat composition and landscape structure in territories and at random sites in arable fields and meadows in south-central Sweden. Calling Corncrakes preferred sites with tall vegetation, moist ground, and locations close to ditches (55% of territories). Suitable conditions occurred on abandoned unmanaged wet meadows (31% of territories), mown wet meadows (14%), leys (30%) and non-rotational set-asides (15% of territories). Corncrakes avoided annual crops and other crops with short vegetation in the spring. Cutting of vegetation before mid-July was recorded in 21% of the territories and resulted in 100% abandonment of these sites. In contrast to many other ground nesting farmland birds, Corncrakes did not avoid forest edges (42% of territories within 100 m of edges). A strategy to conserve Corncrake populations should focus on maintenance of moist natural and sown grasslands (unmanaged or mown late) with tall vegetation and prevention of succession to woodland. Target areas should be in forested landscapes, because many other meadow birds that are more dependent on management (e.g. yearly mowing or grazing) prefer open landscapes.

The risk of the Nene Branta sandvicensis becoming extinct has been minimized by the release of over 2,000 captive-reared geese, but the population (now at 500) is yet to achieve a self-sustaining status. The majority of birds released have been reared in gosling-only groups, thus missing out on the opportunity to learn social and feeding skills from adults. In this paper we test the hypothesis that rearing experience affects the subsequent behavioural traits of Nene goslings. We raised 42 goslings under four conditions: a gosling group not exposed to adults, a gosling group exposed to adults from 16 days onward, three groups in view of “foster” adults for 14 days, and four groups reared continuously by parents. All birds were eventually released into an 8 ha pen where a flock of adult Nene roamed. The method by which Nene goslings were raised had a significant effect on dominance, flock integration, and vigilance. Parent-reared birds were dominant to and more vigilant than goslings raised without parents or goslings reared in sight of adults. Parent-reared birds also integrated into the adult flock sooner than other goslings. Growth rate and final body size were not affected by rearing regime (with or without parents or foster parents). In future, managers should provide goslings with as much “parental” experience as possible in order to equip them with appropriate skills to cope once released in the wild.

Human modified landscapes make up a growing proportion of the tropics, but are relatively little studied. The spatial distribution of remnant vegetation can structure and shape local biodiversity, affecting the provisioning of ecosystem services and regulation of pest problems. We compared species composition, abundance and functional diversity of birds between forest and homegardens close to (0–100 m) and further away from (1,500–2,000 m) moist evergreen Afromontane forests in south-western Ethiopia. We thoroughly inventoried birds with point counts and mist netting in two forest sites and three garden sites of each type. Gardens differed in general species composition from forests, with fewer forest specialist species (7% versus 29% of recorded species), but instead supported many other species that were rarely encountered in the forests. Overall gardens had higher numbers of species than forests. Homegardens close to the forest and further from the forest were similar to each other in terms of species richness and overall species composition. Both garden types had a similar composition in terms of the relative proportion of species with different habitat preferences as well as the composition of species from different feeding guilds. The lack of forest specialists in even the most structurally complex part of the agricultural landscape close to forest edges suggests that the last larger forest remnants are critical for conservation of forest specialists. Nonetheless, homegardens maintain rich bird diversity that also should be considered in a biodiversity conservation context. Further research is needed to establish to what extent the richness and composition of the agro-ecological bird fauna is regulated by the existence of forest patches in the region. Our results could not resolve this question since gardens two kilometers from the forest edge were similar in composition to gardens close to the forest edges.

Ludwig’s Bustard Neotis ludwigii is globally ‘Endangered’ because of a projected population decline resulting from high collision mortality on power lines throughout its southern African range. Population monitoring is key to the effective conservation of threatened species, but there are no population trend data to confirm the impact of this mortality. We repeated extensive road and aerial census counts of Ludwig’s Bustards and other large terrestrial birds, previously conducted in the late 1980s, across the Karoo, South Africa. An aerial survey gave similar density patterns to a concurrent road count, suggesting that road counts are an adequate method for censusing Ludwig’s Bustards. In common with the 1980s surveys, there was a strong seasonal effect in the Succulent Karoo, with Ludwig’s Bustards abundant in winter and rare in summer. There was no evidence of a corresponding decline in the Nama Karoo in winter, but this probably relates to reduced detectability in the Nama Karoo in summer as there is evidence for large proportions of the population migrating between biomes. No relationship was found between the numbers of Ludwig’s Bustards and rainfall, perhaps because of larger scale rainfall patterns in the Karoo and/or because the species is not strictly nomadic. Compared with the 1980s, Ludwig’s Bustards were more strongly associated with transformed lands, which have increased marginally on road count transects. Using Distance, the current South African population is estimated at 114,000 (95% CI 87,000-148,000) birds, with no evidence for a population decline over the past two decades. Numbers of Blue Cranes Anthropoides paradiseus increased since the 1980s, corresponding with other data supporting this trend, but numbers of Karoo Korhaan Eupodotis vigorsii, Southern Black Korhaan Afrotis afra and Blue Korhaan E. caerulescens all decreased, raising concerns about the conservation status of these resident bustard species.

The north-east of Argentina contains a high number of globally threatened grassland birds and is increasingly managed for livestock, with annual burning in remaining natural grasslands. The Strange-tailed Tyrant Alectrurus risora, a globally threatened grassland specialist, has suffered a 90% contraction in its original range. From 1996 to 2008 we monitored a breeding population in Formosa, north-east Argentina, and explored the effect on breeding of four accidental and one prescribed fires. The plant most frequently used for nesting was Imperata brasiliensis, but the frequency of use was lower after a fire than before. In years with a fire, the height of the plant used for nesting and the height of the nest were lower than in those without a fire. Females avoided nesting in the burned plot in the breeding season immediately after the prescribed fire, but they started to return to the burned plot by the second breeding season and did not discriminate between plots by the third breeding season after the fire. Movements of females after the prescribed fire did not affect nest survival, clutch size, hatchability or chick survival indicating this species was adapted to regular fires. However, our results also show that annual burning in the grassland negatively affects the settlement for reproduction of Strange-tailed Tyrants and that the intervals between burns in the same grassland should be longer than two years.

The development of practical approaches to seabird by-catch reduction in longline tuna fisheries is dependent upon knowledge of fishing practices and the cultural and vocational nuances of fishermen. This overview, drawn from information gathered on Japanese tuna vessels in Australian waters, describes the Japanese method of tuna longlining and lists possible reasons for the reluctance shown by tuna fishermen in the adoption of measures to reduce the incidental take of seabirds. While the focus is on Japan there are reasons to believe that tuna fishing for long periods on the high seas is a culture of its own that transcends nationalities. The acceptance of change in fishing cultures, unless imposed by economic necessity or direct government policy, is slow. The overview also makes some suggestions for future efforts to reduce seabird deaths in longline tuna fisheries.

We analysed the trend of the number of singing males of Cantabrian Capercaillie Tetrao urogallus cantabricus in 207 leks on the southern slope of the Cantabrian mountains, north-west Spain, in the period 1981 to 2003. The area of occupancy in 1981–1982 covered up to approximately 2,070 km2, but in 2000–2003 it was 693 km2, a 66% area reduction in 22 years. The 1981–1982 census estimated a minimum number of 274 singing male Capercaillie on the southern slope, but in 2000–2003 only an estimated 81 males were recorded, a reduction of 70%. A linear regression was used to detect and describe the changes in the size of the total population of the southern slope as well as individual subpopulations. The overall trend for the total subpopulations was a significant decrease in the number of males (y = 39.94−0.018x; R2 = 0.944, P < 0.001). The negative regression slopes indicated that the number of males had fallen in all the subpopulations considered. In the western core area the greatest annual mean rate of decline was detected in the Sierra de Picos de Ancares subpopulation (−6.22%) and in the eastern core in the Sierra de Riaño subpopulation (−3.43%). The principal local limiting factors (habitat fragmentation, human disturbance, small population size and competition) that have caused the population decline are discussed, together with the demographic, genetic and evolutionary consequences for the surviving subpopulations.

Small seabird species are often threatened by predation from invasive species at their breeding colonies and considerable efforts are invested into mitigating this threat. However, invasive predators may not be the only onshore threat affecting small seabird species. The South Georgia Diving-petrel Pelecanoides georgicus (SGDP) is a small seabird species, considered ‘Nationally Critical’ in New Zealand. Our objective was to identify terrestrial threats to the species at their sole remaining breeding colony in New Zealand, Codfish Island (Whenua Hou), following the successful eradication of invasive predators. To achieve our objective, we assessed the influence of five physical, three competition/attraction and three plant variables on SGDP nest site selection with generalised linear models (GLMs) and compared models using an information theoretic approach. Models including the distance to sea, slope, aspect, and sand flux outperformed other models and showed selection for steep seaward-facing foredunes with mobile soils. No invasive plant and competition/attraction variables were included in the best performing models. These results suggest that, due to the proximity of their preferred nesting habitat to the springtide line and the overall fragility of the foredunes, SGDPs on Codfish Island are extremely vulnerable to stochastic events and catastrophes, such as storms and storm surges. Eradication efforts directed at invasive predators on Codfish Island appear thus insufficient to safeguard this SGDP colony, necessitating further conservation strategies to secure the continued survival of this population.

The Spectacled Petrel Procellaria [aequinoctialis] conspicillata only breeds at Inaccessible Island, central South Atlantic Ocean. During the early 1980s the population was estimated to be at most 1,000 pairs, but hundreds of Spectacled Petrels have been killed annually in longline fisheries off the east coast of South America since at least 1987. Although the population is characterized by a unique plumage trait, it is still regarded as a subspecies of the White-chinned Petrel P. aequinoctialis. Analysis of calls and playback experiments show that the Spectacled Petrel is vocally distinct from White-chinned Petrels and should be regarded as a valid biological species. It is also slightly smaller and breeds earlier than the White-chinned Petrel. Given its small population size and known mortality on longlines, the Spectacled Petrel is Endangered in terms of IUCN criteria C1 and C2b. Longline fisheries operating off South America should institute measures to reduce seabird by-catch. A survey of the breeding population at Inaccessible Island is required to assess the rate at which the population is decreasing.

The Mariana Crow Corvus kubaryi is a species of forest crow originally found only on the adjacent islands of Guam and Rota in the Mariana Islands of the western Pacific Ocean. Rapid and continuing declines led to it being listed by IUCN as "Critically Endangered" in 2008. Using 97 birds marked and resighted over the course of a 21 year period, we showed there was a rapid decline in first-year (fledgling to one year old) survival from 0.7 to 0.4 between 1990 and 2010, representing a doubling in mortality, and a smaller reduction in adult survival from 0.86 to 0.82 over the same period. A population model based on Leslie matrices incorporated the effects of catastrophic events, such as typhoons and human nest removal for captive breeding. All simulations predicted a precipitous decline in future populations and the inclusion of nest removals only shortened the life of the wild population by a few years. Identifying the underlying processes behind the decline in survival is the key research priority and, given the inevitable likelihood of a continuing rapid decline, conservation action should focus on securing the future of the species through captive breeding or captive rearing of wild-born chicks and ensuring that an adaptive management conservation programme is focused on countering the factors (e.g. predation) that are currently thought to impact first-year survival and productivity. Future research may identify other causes behind the Mariana Crow's decline and the conservation programme should be flexible enough to adapt to changing needs.

Reintroduction to, or reinforcement of, threatened wild populations are commonly used conservation strategies. Reintroductions of the Southern Ground-hornbill Bucorvus leadbeateri have been tested as a potential conservation tool for this vulnerable species since 1995. Forty-two individuals have been reintroduced under varying management strategies. We analysed the outcomes of these attempts to assess which factors contributed most to success or failure. The species exhibits complex social learning and hierarchy, and is long-lived, with delayed sexual maturity. Immediate survival was significantly affected by the season in which the release was done and by the quality of the released birds. The best-quality release birds were reared with wild behavioural characteristics and were well-socialised to captive conspecifics prior to being placed into managed groups (‘bush schools’), where social learning was led by an experienced, wild alpha male. Once reintroduced birds had survived their first year after release, continued wild experience and wild mentorship significantly affected their survival. Since sample sizes limited the rigour of some statistical analyses, other factors were considered that may also determine success. These quasi-experimental reintroductions revealed novel threats to the species, such as the importance of a nest to group cohesion, that harvested second-hatched chicks provide viable release birds, which essentially doubles wild productivity, and that reintroductions generate valuable civil society awareness of the plight of the species.

Human activities are altering ecosystems and threatening the well-being of wildlife. The study of the stressful effects of human disturbances on animal distribution, physiology and behaviour can provide fundamental insights for wildlife conservation. Here, we assess how two declining birds, the European Roller Coracias garrulus and the European Scops Owl Otus scops, cope with alteration by human activities in farming habitats of the south of Spain. We studied nest distribution, quantified nestling physiology (corticosterone levels in plasma and feathers and body weight close to fledgling) and parental behaviour (feeding rates) of both species along a human alteration gradient. Rollers and Scops Owls used the same type of habitat and their spatial distribution was not determined by individual quality. In Rollers, nestlings raised in scrubland areas had high stress-induced corticosterone levels, possibly due to high predation risk in this habitat. In addition, Rollers and Scops Owls showed opposite relationships with farming activity and human disturbance. Nestling Rollers showed the highest corticosterone levels in feathers, weight and parental feeding rates in areas with intense farming activity. These results suggest that despite the disturbance produced by farming activities, inducing a higher stress in these areas, cultivated areas may, simultaneously, provide parents with a higher abundance of prey which would trigger increased feeding rates and, hence, higher nestling weights. Furthermore, nestling Scops Owls showed the highest stress-induced corticosterone levels in areas close to roads, suggesting that they would be affected by human disturbance due to infrastructures that disturb also at night when Scops Owls are active. Therefore, susceptibility to human disturbance may vary between species, probably due to variation in the daily pattern of human activities and the species’ activity rhythm, buffering or exacerbating the effects, which should be considered in future studies on human alterations and birds.

Timneh Parrots Psittacus timneh are a threatened species endemic to the moist forests of West Africa. In 2016, they were categorised as ‘Endangered’ on the IUCN Red List, due to suspected rapid population declines driven by habitat loss and heavy trapping for the pet trade. Systematic assessments of the status of populations are lacking for much of their range and addressing this knowledge shortfall has been identified as a priority action. We combined multiple research approaches to investigate the distribution, trends and threats to Timneh Parrots in Guinea Bissau, where the species is restricted to the islands of the Bijagós archipelago and Pecixe. Direct observational surveys were conducted along line transects on 19 islands. A total of 69 groups were observed on eight of these islands, with the majority (78%) seen on just two islands. Forty-two interviews were conducted with local community members on 24 islands. Interviewees reported the species to occur on 20 islands and that populations are generally perceived to have declined in recent decades. Based on these findings and existing data we conclude that Timneh Parrots occur on 22 of the 32 islands considered and estimate the national population in Guinea-Bissau to be in the order of several hundred individuals, with perhaps half of the parrots occurring on the islands of João Vieira and Meio. Investigations into the factors linked to inter-island variation in parrot densities indicate that densities are highest on the islands which are most remote from permanent human settlements. These findings suggest that human activities including habitat modification and trapping have been important in driving population declines in Guinea-Bissau. We consider the implications of these findings for the conservation of Timneh Parrots.

Realistic population size estimates for waterbirds are crucial for the application of wetland conservation strategies, since the identification of internationally important wetlands is based on local numbers relative to the population size of the respective species. Central Asia is a poorly surveyed region that is situated at the intersection of migration routes that lead waterbirds from Western Siberia to the south-west (South-West Asia, East Africa) and to the south-east (South Asia, India). We calculated waterbird population estimates for the Tengiz–Korgalzhyn region, a large wetland complex in the steppe zone of Central Kazakhstan, based on waterbird surveys conducted between 1999 and 2004. For 20 of 43 species analysed the region supported more than 5% of the relevant flyway populations. Five species occurred with more than 40% of the flyway totals, including the Endangered White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala and the Vulnerable Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus. Peak numbers were recorded in summer and autumn and for most species numbers were more than an order of magnitude lower on spring migration compared with autumn migration. We identified 72 individual sites that held more than 20,000 waterbirds or more than 1% of a particular flyway population at least once. These sites are likely to constitute priorities for conservation. The general conservation status of the region is favourable, since many of the important sites are located within a strict nature reserve. However, outside the reserve hunting, fishing and powerline casualties represent conservation issues that should be monitored more carefully in the future.

Steller's Eider Polysticta stelleri has a restricted arctic breeding range. The world population declined to c. 220,000 individuals in the late 1990s from an estimated 400,000–500,000 in the 1960s. The species has a limited global wintering distribution, occurring in marine habitats in north-east Europe, islands close to Kamchatka in Russia, and the eastern Aleutian Islands and south-west Alaska. European wintering numbers were estimated at 30,000–50,000 in the early 1990s, when the population was considered of favourable conservation status. Recent census data from the most important European wintering sites show annual declines of 8% in Norway since 1984, 9% in Estonia since 1994 and 22% in Lithuania since 1995, suggesting an overall 65% reduction in Europe. Counts in 1994 suggested that 30–50% of the European population wintered in Russia at that time. Current census data from Russia show similar declines along monitored sections of the Kola Peninsula wintering grounds since 1994. Accounting for trends in Russia, the current European wintering population could possibly stand at 10,000–15,000 individuals (a more than a 50% decline in 10 years), qualifying this population as Endangered under IUCN criteria. The changes in Baltic/Norwegian wintering numbers did not correlate with changes in the extent of ice-free marine waters in the Kola Peninsula/White Sea areas, but changes in annual numbers in Norway were correlated with winter North Atlantic Oscillation indices. Variation in annual numbers in the Baltic Sea correlated with projected number of juveniles among wintering birds. However, none of the possible causes discussed in this paper could fully explain the decline in Steller's Eider, confirming the need for comprehensive monitoring of the population throughout its winter range and for cohesive demographic monitoring to target effective conservation action.