Based on information on population sizes, trends, threatening processes and the nature and intensity of conservation actions implemented during 1994–2004, scientists at BirdLife International have calculated that 16 bird species would have probably become extinct during this period if conservation programmes for them had not been undertaken. This list includes one species of columbid, the Pink Pigeon Nesoenas mayeri, which would most likely have gone extinct around 2002 without intensive conservation efforts. The authors conclude that efforts need to be considerably scaled up to prevent many more extinctions in the coming decades and that while the knowledge and tools to achieve this are available, we need to mobilize the resources and political will to apply them.

Butchart, S.H.M., Stattersfield, A.J. and Collar, N.J. (2006) How many bird extinctions have we prevented? Oryx 40(3), 266–278.

The state of the UK’s birds 2005 published this month shows the European Turtle-dove Streptopelia turtur to still be in decline in the UK. Numbers have fallen by 91% over the long-term (1970-2004), while a 45% decline has been recorded over the last nine years ('BSS Trend' 1994-2005) - the third greatest of all species listed.

Eaton, M.A., Ausden, M., Burton, N., Grice, P.V., Hearn, R.D., Hewson, C.M., Hilton, G.M., Noble, D.G., Ratcliffe, N. and Rehfisch, M.M. 2006. The state of the UK’s birds 2005. RSPB, BTO, WWT, CCW, EN, EHS and SNH, Sandy, Bedfordshire.

A new project, Kererü Discovery Project, is being launched this month in New Zealand to help increase urban populations of the native New Zealand wood pigeon, Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae, or kererü as it is locally known. To achieve this the project is developing a coordinated programme of research, education, and exhibitions that will encourage positive community action.

The official Kererü Discovery Project launch day is on Saturday 12 August, when a day of special events has been organised ( see list of events).

The list of official endorsed international studbooks for rare species of wild animals in captivity was published in July. These studbooks contain figures for births, deaths, imports from the wild (if any) and numbers registered are based on the studbook keepers’ annual reports to the Yearbook.
The list of pigeons includes just the Mauritius Pink Pigeon Nesoenas mayeri and Crowned Pigeons Goura spp.

See: International Zoo Yearbook July 2006 - Vol. 40 Issue 1 Page 500-516. (The International Zoo Yearbook is an international forum for the exchange of information on the role of zoos in the conservation of biodiversity, species and habitats. It is published by The Zoological Society of London as a service to zoos around the world.)

The European Commission to open a legal infringement procedure against the Maltese government for allowing the spring hunting of European Turtle-doves Streptopelia turtur on their return journey from Africa to their European breeding grounds. This infringement of the Birds Directive has continued to take place in Malta since its accession to the European Union in 2004. The Maltese government will now have to ensure that no spring hunting takes place from 2007 onwards, otherwise it will be taken to the European Court of Justice (BirdLife 28.06.2006).

Shin-Ichi Seki, a scientist at the Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute in Japan, has examined the application of molted feathers as non-invasive samples for studies on the genetic structure of pigeons (Aves: Columbidae) using a newly developed universal primer set for the hypervariable left domain of mitochondrial control region, SXL0 and KXH5. For most of the multisampled taxa, the target region was highly variable, and was suitable for studies on genetic structure. The use of molted feathers to overview the genetic structure of pigeon species marks an important development because of its easy and noninvasive sampling method and readiness for subsequent genetic analysis.

Seki, S.I. (seki “at” ffpri.affrc.go.jp) (2006). Application of molted feathers as noninvasive samples to studies on the genetic structure of pigeons (Aves: Columbidae). Journal of Forest Research 11:125–129.