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Many NZ bird species at risk - stuff.co.nz
New Zealand birds are struggling to survive, with many species and subspecies at risk, new research shows.
Predators such as stoats and rats remain the birds' biggest problem, but fishing by-catch and dairy conversions are also to blame, conservation experts say.
A three-yearly review of the conservation status of New Zealand birds, conducted last year by eight experts, found 77 taxa (species and subspecies) were considered "threatened" and 93 "at risk" of the 428 assessed. Twenty are already extinct.
New Zealand has more extinct and endangered birds than any other country.
Lead author Dr Colin Miskelly, of the Department of Conservation (DOC), said he was concerned about the lack of improvement of 21 birds considered "nationally critical" in 2005 those with less than 250 adults. More on stuff.co.nz
