15 bird species in India critically endangered

• The latest International Union for Conservation of Nature ( IUCN) Red List of Birds (2013) shows that fifteen bird species in India continue to be critically endangered (CR). 
• Moreover, three other bird species now face greater danger than before. These species have been uplisted to Near Threatened (NT) and Vulnerable (VU) categories. 
• Earlier they were better off and classified under Least Concern (LC) category. 
• In India, organizations such as BNHS-India play a crucial role in researching and collating such information, as the BirdLife International (UK) country partner. 

• The species falling under the Critically Endangered category in India include:                                                                                                 migratory wetland species: Baer's Pochard, Siberian Crane and Spoon-billed Sandpiper;                                                                                   non-migratory wetland species: White-bellied Heron;                       grassland species: Bengal Florican, Great Indian Bustard, Jerdon's Courser and Sociable Lapwing;                                                                 forest species: Forest Owlet and                                                       scavengers: Indian Vulture, Red-headed Vulture, White-backed Vulture and Slender-billed Vulture. 
• Himalayan Quail and Pink-headed Duck are now considered Extinct for all practical purposes.

Reasons of decline of bird species in India

• Drastic modification, fragmentation, degradation and loss of habitat, environmental pollution (both industrial and due to increased pesticide usage), poaching and land use changes, etc.
• Changes in cropping pattern due to various reasons, including implementation of irrigation schemes, increased pesticide usage, livestock-grazing, high levels of disturbance and developmental activities viz. mining and hydel projects resulted in marginal fall in their population.
• Drastic loss of grassland habitat over the past decades has severely threatened species viz. Great Indian Bustard, Bengal Florican and Jerdon’s Courser.
• Destruction of deciduous forests in central India has lead to the decline in Forest Owlet numbers.
• Destruction of forests in the fragile Western Ghats and Himalaya continue to endanger the existence of many other species.
• Use of chemical components as in the case of diclofenac’s effect of vulture species.

About IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

• The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
  Headquarters	United Kingdom
  Region served	International
  Official languages	English
  Parent organization	International Union for Conservation of Nature
  Affiliations	Species Survival Commission, Birdlife International,Conservation International,NatureServe, Botanic Gardens Conservation International, Royal Botanic Gardens, Texas A&M University,Sapienza University of Rome, Zoological Society of London, Wildscreen
  Website	www.iucnredlist.org

• Objective: To have the category of every species re-evaluated every five years if possible or at least every ten years.
• Powerful tool to inform and catalyze action for biodiversity conservation and policy change, critical to protecting the natural resources we need to survive.
• Provides information on population size and trends, geographic range and habitat needs of species.
• Evaluates species in 9 categories through a criteria viz. rate of decline, population size, area of geographic distribution, and degree of population, distribution fragmentation, etc.