July 10th, 2011
New breeding locations found for bird on the brink
Spoon-billed Sandpiper. Image © 2011 Chris Collins.
ONE OF THE WORLD’S great iconic shorebird species, the Spoon-billed Sandpiper, is also the most threatened. There are perhaps only dozens of pairs of this species remaining and captive breeding programs under way. How successful this can be for a tiny migratory shorebird is yet to be ascertained, so it is encouraging to hear that a survey conducted by Heritage Expeditions – a Birdlife International “Birdlife Species Champion” – has uncovered hitherto undiscovered breeding locations on the Chukotka coast of Far East Russia. Read more on the BirdLife International site »