Conducting research to understand conservation needs

The first priority in trying to address population declines in a species is to understand the causes of decline. Where these are not immediately apparent, targeted research may be necessary. Such research needs to look at species at all stages of their life-cycle—in migratory species for example it may be factors at wintering grounds or on migration routes rather than at breeding sites that are causing problems (, ). While sometimes it becomes evident that there are multiple causes of a decline, sometimes a single factor is found to be responsible.

• Investigating the causes of Sociable Lapwing declines
• The wintering grounds of Northern Bald Ibis in Syria have been discovered using satellite tracking

Managing specific populations and addressing threats

Species-specific conservation interventions for highly threatened species may take a variety of forms, from protecting nests (), creating artificial nest-sites (), providing supplementary food (, ), translocating birds  (), eradicating invasive species (), mitigating incidental mortality in fisheries (, ) or launching species-specific campaigns and awareness-raising to tackle specific issues ().

• Nest protection and brood manipulation has helped the Mauritius Parakeet to recover
• Bermuda Petrel is being conserved through translocation and provision of artificial nest-sites
• Supplementary feeding for vultures in Nepal
• Back from the brink: four Critically Endangered species saved from extinction
• Translocating Rimatara Lorikeets to Ātiu, Cook Islands
• Eradicating introduced mammals from Clipperton Island led to dramatic recovery of seabirds
• Simple changes to fishing methods can get seabirds off the hook
• The Albatross Task Force is bridging the gap between conservationists and fishermen
• Raising public awareness to save the Yellow-eared Parrot

Re-introducing birds where necessary

Captive-breeding is generally regarded a last resort, to be fallen back on when all other attempts at conservation have failed. The ultimate aim of captive-breeding projects is always to support conservation of species in the wild. Reintroduction is usually a difficult, expensive and time-consuming undertaking, but can be successful (, ).

• Captive breeding plays a crucial part in bringing the Californian Condor back from the brink
• Captive breeding and release of Asian Crested Ibis: linking Japan and China

Species can be saved from extinction

Where threats are tackled through directed interventions, conservation can succeed. Some species have been brought back from the brink of extinction in spectacular fashion. At least 16 species would undoubtedly have gone extinct in the last decade alone without the conservation action they received (). However, action is urgently required for many more species; BirdLife’s Preventing Extinctions Programme is tackling this by greatly increasing actions directed specifically at highly threatened birds ().

• Without conservation action, 16 bird species would have gone extinct over the last ten years
• Species Guardians and Species Champions: taking and funding action for the most threatened species