Gouldian Finch
The Gouldian Finch is a beautiful bird because its plumage is very colorful with a sophisticated pattern. Along with the Okinawa rail, it is included in the list of endangered species because of a lot of reasons. Some of the main reasons for the decline of number of this bird is the loss of habitat due to the fire created by humans to create farmlands, the loss of food source and their capture as pets. It is included in the list of endangered species because of the modification of its habitat. If the numbers of this species will stop declining, then it will be taken out from the list of endangered species and be placed in the vulnerable species list. These birds are usually found in Australia.
Physical Appearance
The Gouldian Finch can reach up to 12.5 cm. It has a black pointed tail; it has a green upper body, with a throat that has a red or orange color. It has a purple colored breast, a yellow colored belly and it has a white bill with red tip. Truly, this bird can get very colorful. This is also the main reason why people capture this bird as pet. These birds go to waterholes to drink during the dry seasons.
Threats
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Cattle are grazing grasslands. With this, the birds lose their main source of food. Other animals can also corrupt the water whole where these birds gather to drink.
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Altered fire regimes not only destroy the habitats of these birds, but also their sources of food. During food scarcity, the gouldian finch finds it hard to look for their food because of the altered fire regimes.
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Trapping is also another reason for the declining number of the gouldian finch. They are trapped to be sold to people who want to have this bird as a pet.
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Parasitic mite infection is also one of the main reason why this bird is included in the list of endangered species.
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Climate change also disrupts the seasons in the habitat of these birds. They become confused when the timing of the rainfall and the dry season is not the same as usual anymore. This is also a threat to these birds.
Fortunately, there have been a lot of wildlife organizations in the world that are making movements to protect and conserve these birds. They are monitoring the major places where these birds can be found and they implement conservational and protective measures for these birds.
Okinawa Rail – Japan’s Endangered Bird
From the main island of Okinawa in Japan, you will find the flightless endangered birds, Okinawa Rail, which is under threat of being extinct. Their species is under attack from Java mongoose and cats that were allowed to be brought into the island. This is why they are labeled as endangered species. In Japan, they are known as Yambaru Kuina because they come specifically from the Yambaru area which is located in the north side of the island of Okinawa.
Before the cats and mongoose were allowed to migrate to Okinawa island, the Okinawa Rail was living in excellent health and growing in population. The count at that was 1,800 birds. This has dwindled to more than half as of last count a few years ago.
The Okinawa Rail has wings which means it chooses not to fly because its food are lizards and insects. Unfortunately, their being flightless means easy prey for the Java mongoose that can attack and eat them on the spot.
Incredibly, they were only introduced to the world in 1981. Their plight has been pushed aside in favor of more accessible animals. Thus, forests were allowed to be cleared. Being their home, they not only lost their protective shelters, they also became easy target for road accidents.
Not much is known about this animal, and unless something is done to bring the conservation actions to the next level, they will soon be extinct.
This next level refers to more studies done on this endangered animals to find out how they live, eat, care for their babies, travel, and survive. If a habitat can be replicated so they have a guarded area to live in, they might be able to populate and grow as a species.
The Japanese government, through its Ministry of Environment has said it has plans to beef up the breeding of Okinawa Rails. They have even on step further and declared the Okinawa Rails as critically endangered animals. By 2017, they hope to increase the population of the Okinawa Rail birds to 200. they plan to do this through controlled breeding in captivity.
Some of the Okinawa rail birds are being held inside the Nagamine Animal Hospital, but access to these endangered birds are strictly controlled and monitored. They stay in a dark room with very little natural light. Kudos must be given to Japanese authorities for taking this endangered animals seriously, and doing everything they can to study and care for them.
Reference: Illustrated Encyclopedia of endangered animals.
A Japanese Endangered Animal: Black-faced Spoonbill
Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) reports that out of 47,000 species of animals and plants surveyed, more than 17,000 could become extinct. IUCN made a list which is called the Red List. According to The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, the list is widely recognized as the most comprehensive, objective global approach for evaluating the conservation status of plant and animal species. From its small beginning, the IUCN Red List has grown in size and complexity and now plays an increasingly prominent role in guiding conservation activities of governments, NGOs and scientific institutions.
In Japan, Ministry of the Environment made the Red Data book based on the Red List to protect endangered animals. Now you have a question “What is the Red Data Book (RDB)?” It is a list that Japanese Ministry of the Environment publishes periodically to understand which species are endangered. It is a useful tool to inform the fact about endangered animals to people.
One of the endangered animals Black-faced Spoonbill lives on the Korean peninsula, China, Japan’s ocean shores and tidelands. The Black-faced Spoonbill is a migratory bird. In summer, it hangs out on the Korean peninsula and takes care of the kids and moves to Taiwan or Japan in winter. Black-faced Spoonbill makes his habitat in East Asian area that why they are sometimes called “Asian bird.” Today, their home areas were taken by people by building factories and farms, so it is disappearing quickly. It would be worse that Black-faced Spoonbill lives in the same area because they will be extinct if they have problems where they flock.
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