BirdLife Australia's emergency interventions program is taking action to prevent the extinction of Australia's most threatened birds, some of which have 'slipped through the cracks' until now.
The Emergency Interventions program focuses on highly threatened birds which have struggled to attract resources for conservation management. Our list of priority species (below) is drawn from recent research that identified which Australian birds are most likely to become extinct in the next 20 years.
BirdLife Australia is currently seeking funding to develop Species Action Plans for these highly imperilled birds – the critical first step in saving them from extinction.
Developed in consultation with species experts, local communities and on-ground partners, BirdLife Australia’s Species Action Plans will identify our role in delivering key strategies and actions required to conserve these birds and drive their recovery.
Through the emergency interventions initiative, BirdLife Australia is working to save threatened birds, including:
The 2019 bushfires that swept across Kangaroo Island were calamitous; almost half the island burned. This includes important habitat for many native birds. BirdLife Australia took action to assess the impact of the bushfires on Kangaroo Island’s birdlife. The damage was assessed and surveyed, and this allowed us to identify measures to facilitate recovery.
The Western Ground Parrot has vanished from many parts of its habitat on the South Coast of Western Australia. Bushfires are a major threat to these birds, which prefer vegetation that has not been burnt for many years.
For over a century, these birds were thought to be extinct. Indeed, over the last century, fewer than 50 have been seen. Surveys by the Emergency Interventions team are helping BirdLife understand what these Critically Endangered birds need to help secure a future for them.
Ravaged by bushfires and introduced predators, the Critically Endangered Western Ground Parrot, or Kyloring, is one of Australia's rarest birds, with between 100 and 150 left in the wild. Working in partnership, this project is delivering vital support to save them from extinction.
With brownish upperparts that feature distinct pale mottling, and pale underparts with dark scalloping.
The 2019–20 bushfire season, known as ‘Black Summer’, was catastrophic for Australian birds and their habitats. BirdLife Australia’s Bushfire Recovery Program aims to improve conservation outcomes for birds most imperiled by the fires.
