The Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) has warned that India could be losing 78 species of birds threatened with extinction of which seven are listed as critical. On the global front, the situation is no better as the Birdlife International, a federation striving to conserve nature in over 100 countries, states that 1,186 of the world's bird species are at a risk of extinction. Globally, the current extinction rate is 50 times greater than natural rates and is predicted to rise 500 times greater than the natural rates in the next 100 years. Fossil records indicate that one bird species will die out every 100 years or so.

So far,128 bird species have been documented as becoming extinct over the last 100 years, with 103 of these since 1800. And of this threatened group,182 species are critical, which means that they have a risk of becoming extinct in the next 10 years or over the next three generations. According to BNHS ornithologists, 99 per cent of the globally threatened species are at risk from human activities such as agriculture, logging, hunting, trapping and industry.

Extinction of species is a result of major human-induced changes in the world's ecosystems, says Supriya Jhunjhunwala, Ornithology Officer of the Important Bird Areas (IBA) programme, BNHS. These ecosystems provide vital services such as maintaining global climate patterns, mediating the carbon cycle safeguarding watersheds and stabilising soils which are valued at approximately Rs1,386 trillion per year.

"To prevent extinction, we need better knowledge of threatened species, effective legal and social actions and more sustainable use of natural resources", says Jhunjhunwala. In India, BNHS scientists have found no evidence of the survival of the Pink-headed Duck (Rhodonessa caryophyllacea) which they believe is probably extinct as field studies indicate. However, the Forest Owlet (Athene bliwetti) was rediscovered after 117 years and the Jerdon's Courser (Rhinoptilus bitorquatus) after 86 years by BNHS scientists. These along with the Himalayan Quail (Ophrysia superciliosa) are endemic to India and have very small breeding ranges.

The numbers of Siberian Cranes (Grus leucogeranus) that visit the wintering grounds in India are rapidly declining though attempts have been made by BNHS with the help of the International Crane Foundation to reintroduce these birds. The White-rumped Vulture (Gyps bengalensis) and The Long-billed Vulture (Gyps indicus) have been recently upgraded because they have suffered an extremely rapid population decline, probably as a result of some viral disease.

The BNHS has initiated a worldwide effort to try and identify and remedy this decline. As part of a global programme, Important Bird Areas, which are priority areas for conservation of birds, are being identified by Birdlife International with the programme being conducted by BNHS, the Birdlife Partner designate in India.

The Keoladeo National Park, Rajasthan, the Kabartal in Bihar and Bhimashankar, Maharashtra, are amongst the IBAs identified for India. If the sites are conserved for birds, they will also protect other biodiversity for current and future generations.