‘Extinction crisis’ could see 500 bird species vanish within a century –report

Researchers say urgent conservation efforts will be needed to mitigate the shocking statistic' that threatens to unravel ecosystems

More than 500 bird species could vanish within the next century, researchers have found, calling for urgent special recovery programmes" such as captive breeding and habitat restoration to rescue unique species.

Birds such as the puffin, European turtle dove and great bustard will be among those to disappear from our skies if trends continue, according to the paper. Their loss threatens to unravel ecosystems across the globe.