Over 7,000 steppe eagles were found feeding on dead carcasses at two rubbish dumps near, Riyadh; the largest gathering of this endangered species recorded. A dump 6 kilometres (3.7mi) south-west of Ushaiqer had up to 6,000 of which 60-70% were adults and a second dump 9 kilometres (5.6mi) from Shaqra had a further 1,200 birds. Threats include electrocution from power lines, poisoned bait put on carcasses to control preditors such as feral dogs, etc. and diclofenac a livestock painkiller but toxic to eagles.[1]
Europe
Britain
Breeding birds
56 pairs of common crane (Grus grus) recorded bringing the total estimated population to 200 birds – the most in the UK for over 400 years.[2]
regent honeyeater (Anthochaera phrygia) – critically endangered; before the fires the estimated population was fewer than 250 birds
superb lyrebird (Menura novaehollandiae) – red list status of least concern; loss of over half of its habitat
bristlebird – the northern population may have as few as 28 birds
glossy black-cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus lathami) – it is estimated that 75% of the subspecies habitat on Kangaroo Island is estimated to have been destroyed
southern emu-wren (Stipiturus malachurus) – it is estimated that over 80% of the Kangaroo Island habitat has been destroyed.[4]
It is estimated that at least 3 billion terrestrial vertebrates were killed or displaced by the fires including 180 million birds.[5]
French Polynesia
A three-week expedition in November, to the remote island of Mohotani, one of the Marquesas Islands was undertaken to assess the seabird population and study the behaviour of the Marquesan monarch (Pomarea mendozae). Ground-nesting birds and the forest are under threat from feral cats, rats and sheep, and Mohotani is part of the multi-island restoration programme to secure over 2000ha of predator-free habitat.[6]