Not only do they help pollinate plants, but they also disperse seeds, which they use to help propagate various groups of organisms, both animal and vegetable.
For example, scavengers contribute to habitat health by feeding on the remains of other creatures, while birds of prey are becoming a biological control against populations that might pose a nuisance such as rodents.
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), there are an estimated 11,000 species of birds and the threats that loom over them are numerous and very serious.
A recent study published in the Annual Review of Environment and Resources found that about 48 percent of the general population is experiencing a decline in their population.
The findings confirmed those of a 2019 investigation, which found nearly three billion breeders had disappeared in the United States and Canada over the past 50 years.
“Bird diversity is highest in the world in the tropics, and that’s also where we find the greatest number of threatened species,” said lead author Alexander Lees, Senior Lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University in the UK.
Climate change is said to be partly responsible for the decline in bird species diversity and the deterioration of natural habitats and the direct overexploitation of many specimens.
Illegal trade, hunting and poaching of nests are other factors that bring them to the brink of disappearance.
The IUCN found that 13 percent of birds are threatened with extinction, and illustrated this with specimens such as the Andean condor, the Magellanic penguin and the scarlet macaw.
In addition, according to the International Council for the Protection of Birds, more than a thousand species are threatened.
The family with the largest number of endangered species (more than 70) is the family of parrots.
Every May 9th is a day celebrated around the world that aims to raise awareness about the care and conservation of birds and their natural environment.
However, change begins with the belief that its role goes beyond ornament and has a crucial impact on human health and well-being.
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