The Search for Lost Birds is a collaborative effort involving Re:wild, the American Bird Conservancy, and BirdLife International to find and document species that have not been seen in at least 10 years. Citizen scientists are vital in helping confirm the existence of these lost birds by submitting sightings and data through various platforms. Researchers have combed through millions of photos, videos, and audio recordings to curate their list of lost bird species, with the most recent analysis identifying 144 lost birds. However, since the initial publication, 14 species have been rediscovered, while two species were clarified taxonomically and two were found under human care.
The list of lost bird species includes birds that have been missing for over 150 years and some that have disappeared more recently. Local experts have been consulted to provide insight into which species have not been seen in recent years. The goal of the project is to locate these lost birds, understand why they disappeared, and implement conservation efforts to prevent further losses. Most of the undocumented species are concentrated in certain geographic regions, with Asia, Africa, and Oceania missing the most birds, likely due to habitat devastation and deforestation in these areas.
In Canada, only one bird, the Eskimo curlew, is currently listed as lost, but there are concerns about declining bird populations that could lead to more species being added to the list in the future. Conservation efforts, both reactive and preventive, are crucial to protect bird species facing population declines. Aerial insectivores, shorebirds, and grassland birds in Canada have experienced significant declines in recent years. The lost birds in the database each have unique stories, but many share common themes of habitat loss, rarity, lack of scientific study, and other factors.
Bird enthusiasts, or “birders,” play a vital role in helping to locate lost bird species through citizen science projects. Birding has become increasingly popular among people of all demographics, with the COVID-19 pandemic further fueling interest in the hobby. Birds Canada offers over 40 citizen scientist projects throughout the year, providing opportunities for the public to contribute to bird conservation efforts by monitoring bird behavior and populations. The involvement of citizen scientists has already led to the successful rediscovery of several bird species, emphasizing the importance of their contributions to conservation.
The successes of the Lost Birds project and similar citizen scientist initiatives demonstrate the importance of engaging the public in conservation efforts. Rediscoveries of species like the Bismarck honeyeater, long-billed bush warbler, and Santa Marta sabrewing highlight the impact that citizen scientists can have on the preservation of biodiversity. By encouraging and supporting citizen science projects, organizations like Birds Canada are working to protect and conserve bird species that are at risk of being lost forever.
