The Spanish Ornithological Society SEO/Birdlife has just published the 2021 version of the Red Book of the birds of Spain, which updates the previous edition of 2004. As usual, the species are evaluated following the method established by the IUCN and many of them end up being classified in one of the categories of risk of extinction. Several conclusions are absolutely shocking in this report.
Red Book: a threatened avifauna
Let us recall the importance of Spanish biodiversity in the European context, and in particular of its avifauna composed of 398 regular taxa (out of a total of 622 species mentioned at least once in the country). This Red Book thus documents the state of bird populations in the richest region of the European Union.
Of the 359 species assessed, more than half of the species have conservation problems and up to a quarter of them (90 species) are directly threatened with extinction (Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable). The situation looks quite similar to 2004 when simply comparing the number of threatened species… but you have to look in detail to understand the extent of the threats.
The Red Data Book analyzes separately the breeding populations on the one hand and the wintering / migratory populations on the other. As a general rule, and with some exceptions, only the breeding populations are at risk in Spain.
Critically endangered birds
18 species are Critically Endangered (CR), most of them waterbirds and seabirds. Note that for the categories Endangered (EN) and Vulnerable (VU), the number of threatened and specialist species in these two habitats is similar, with a total of 24 waterbirds and 17 seabirds threatened. These numbers indicate the strong threats to these ecosystems.
Critically Endangered (CR) wetland birds: Black-tailed Godwit, Eurasian curlew, Bittern, Great Bittern, Bristle-thighed and Shear-warbler, Iberian arch ed-mouth nase, Red-knobbed Coot, and Linnet.
Large wetlands have been legally protected in Spain for several decades and are home to the greatest biodiversity of birds. Nevertheless, it seems difficult to re-establish favorable environmental conditions for the rarest breeding species that require habitats of higher environmental quality. Conclusion: despite the ‘end’ of the total destruction of large wetlands and their inclusion in networks of protected natural areas, the degradation of aquatic environments continues on a large scale in Spain. The bloodiest examples being the Mar Menor lagoon, the Tablas de Daimiel, Doñana itself or the almost unnoticed Laguna de La Janda.
Critically Endangered Seabirds (CR): Lesser, Lesser and Balearic Shearwaters , Lesser Storm Petrel, Common Murre and Black-legged Kittiwake.
Although the protection of seabird breeding colonies is generally guaranteed in Spain, their numbers continue to decline dramatically. This situation is explained by the fact that these species live over vast areas. The degradation of the marine ecosystem is a global phenomenon that goes far beyond the national framework, although of course many improvements are needed at the local level, especially in order not to lose the most localized species.
Other Critically Endangered (CR) species: rare and restricted birds: Lesser Grey Shrike and Gran Canaria Blue Chaffinch. Let’s add a species that is an exception: the Capercaillie, a large forest bird, which requires large areas of forest with high environmental quality. Three emblematic species that continue to decline.
Agricultural avifauna in danger
The Threatened and Vulnerable categories see a massive influx of species linked to semi-natural, open and low altitude ecosystems: pseudo-steppe, dehesas, vineyards and agricultural mosaics. The Red Book highlights a veritable massacre of shrikes, larks, larks, alzacolas, little bustards, caracaras, bar-tailed godwits, harriers, hawks, Common Kites, quails, partridges… with a total of 31 species in danger of extinction, almost all of whose populations are in steep decline.
Unfortunately, this assessment comes as no surprise, given the magnitude of the situation across the country and the general tone on the European continent. We are about to experience Rachel Carson’ s famous “silent spring” (1962). Industrial and chemical agriculture, favored by the CAP, is so ‘efficient’ that it leaves no room for wildlife, and no room for peasants either, in immense extensions of the territory. The degradation of rural Spain continues due to the inaction of the public authorities and the almost generalized indifference of society.
However, the wide area of initial distribution, spread throughout the Iberian Peninsula and the important initial numbers of agricultural avifauna still ensure a presence in many parts of the territory. Let us note experiences of Great Bustard conservation that demonstrate the reversible nature of this decline… The conservation of rural areas is independent of the framework of protected natural areas and requires
Large birds of prey and mountain species
Birds of prey are generally less threatened than two decades ago, especially Mediterranean species that have known great conservation successes (still ongoing) such as the Imperial Eagle, Bearded Vulture and Cinereous Vulture whose status has recently improved.
For mountain species, the situation is worrying, often due to climate change, the main effect of which is to reduce the availability of high-altitude habitat.
The “shock” of common species
Recent studies have shown significant declines in the numbers of the most common species in Europe and North America. Spain is no exception with a loss of almost 100 million birds of the 100 most common species in the last thirty years. The result is even more tragic when we know that most forest species show a positive trend. Among the most common bird species, we are in for a real slap in the face. Of course, species linked to agricultural environments, but not only …
One of the biggest surprises comes with the Kingfisher, classified as endangered (EN). However, this is a logical consequence for this species because biologists have, of course, long observed the often deplorable state of Spanish river ecosystems and ichthyofauna. As a personal anecdote, in the early 2000s, the presence of the Kingfisher in the annexes of the Habitats Directive was the subject of a joke about these poor Belgian ornithologists who decidedly had little to protect, compared to our great Ospreys, etc. And here we are… 20 years later, suffering from the same disease.
Other well-known and endangered species: Common Kestrel (EN), Jackdaw (EN), Common Barn Swallow (VU), Common Scops Owl (VU), Scops Owl (VU), synanthropic species that have benefited in the past from living close to human communities.
The case of the Red-legged Partridge (VU) is particularly tense because of the possible legal implications and regulations of a game species. Note the importance of partridges and wild rabbits for the conservation of top predators in Mediterranean ecosystems.
Among the near endangered species (NT), some very common birds await us: Western Barn Sparrow, Barn Owl, Little Owl, Zitting Cisticola and even Common Chiffchaff. The first three are rural synanthropes and the last two represent insectivorous passerines. We ask ourselves the question: what is the future of the avifauna if even the Common Chiffchaff is almost threatened?
Deficient territorial policies
This Red Book offers a remarkable source of information on the avifauna of Spain. Birds are the best studied group of all Spanish fauna and occupy a large number of habitats. Their conservation status alerts us about the state of conservation of ecosystems and the policies to be implemented. The interest shown in birds should not make us forget the importance of all biodiversity as well as the need to conserve many sites that are not necessarily of ornithological interest.
Reintroduction programs. 1) The debate is open on whether to initiate or continue expensive field breeding (‘hacking’) programs for large raptors. 2) Two species considered regionally extinct: the Northern bald
The species in the Red Book (technical document) could be included in the Spanish Catalogue of Threatened Species (document with legal value). The implications are very strong since all municipalities in Spain would be affected by the most common endangered species. However, let us remember that to date only 33% of threatened species (Red Book) are affected by conservation plans (Spanish Catalog) and that, in addition, many regions have not yet established these mandatory plans for all the species present in their territory. In short, very few species are protected on paper, and when they are, they are often left to their own devices…
Photos: Luis Boñano.
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