Wanted: Spoon-billed Sandpiper – ALIVE!

Spoon-billed Sandpiper. Photo: Nial Moores. Curlew Sandpiper in the background.

I am very excited over the new series of posts on 10000 birds. Charley Moores is presenting the Critically threatened Spoonbilled Sandpiper over 6 blog posts, with discussion and inteviews with conservationists and specialists. Here is the first delivery.

The prognosis is indeed dire to say the least. Charlie writes:

Listed in 2001 in the Threatened Birds of Asia: The BirdLife International Red Data Book as Vulnerable with a population optimistically estimated at between 2,000 and 2,800 pairs, there are now thought to be less than 300 pairs left, and – to quote BirdLife International – “action is now urgently required to prevent the extinction of this species”.

I am sure there will also be some hints where the species presently can be seen and what we all can do to try to stop the extinctionof this splendid most wanted bird by many birders who love shorebirds.

Spoon-billed Sandpiper. Photo: Espen Lie Dahl