Rusty Blackbird Status
Rusty Blackbird population has declined precipitously during the past four decades. The reason is not known specifically and there are probably several reasons for the apparent decline, but the National Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count shows a great decline.
According to Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources in Athens, Georgia the status of the Rusty Blackbird is as follows:
Rusty Blackbird Status
According to the Breeding Bird Survey Rusty Blackbird populations have declined 12.5% in the past 40 years. Christmas Bird Counts also suggest at least a 90% decline in population numbers during that time.
In 2007, The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) changed the Rusty Blackbird’s conservation status from “Least Concern” to “Threatened-Vulnerable.” The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) listed it as a “Focal Species of Conservation Concern.” Yet, for many years, the Rusty Blackbird also has been labeled an agricultural pest by the USFWS and part of a standing depredation order that is an exemption to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA).
This status means the Rusty Blackbird, along with other blackbird species, are subject to lethal and non-lethal control measures without additional permitting if it is judged that they are interfering, or are about to interfere with agricultural activities, including eating crops or posing a health risk to livestock. In December 2008, however, the USFWS proposed a rule change to the standing depredation order. They have recommended removing the Rusty Blackbird from this exemption.
This entry was posted on Monday, July 13th, 2009 at 11:54 am and is filed under Status. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
