Surfbirds News

The priolo – a local name for this species, which only occurs on the island of São Miguel in the Azores archipelago - is one of 189 Critically Endangered birds across the world, and one of three in Europe facing the threat of imminent extinction.

Azores Bullfinch, © Leo Boon, from the surfbirds galleries

Common until the 19th century, the Azores bullfinch became very rare last century. In the 1990s only around 120 pairs were thought to remain – a decline driven by the widespread loss of native forest (which provides the buds and berries that constitute its food), and the rampant invasion of São Miguel by non-native plants, such as yellow-ginger lily and lily-of-the-valley, that further degrade the natural habitat.

Since 2003, SPEA (BirdLife in Portugal), the RSPB, and some other partners, including the Azores regional government, have been implementing a €2.8 million EU Life project to increase the area and quality of the bullfinch's habitat, largely through the clearance of invasive exotic plants and the planting of native trees grown in a nursery. So far, 110 ha of native forest has been restored in the core area of the bullfinch's world distribution. The whole range has also been legally protected as a Special protected Area under the Birds Directive, and a management plan for the site is being implemented. Recently, SPEA has opened an environmental education centre in the area, focusing on the plight of the 'priolo' and its habitat.

Surveys carried out since 2002 have suggested a rise in the Azores bullfinch population to around 340 individuals, a sign that habitat restoration, and all the other protective measures taken, are starting to have an effect.

Jose Tavares, the RSPB's country programme officer for Portugal, said: 'With the help of the EU LIFE fund, a proper and comprehensive conservation programme to save this species from extinction is being implemented. With so much already achieved, Birdwatch's decision to add to this effort has provided a timely intervention to help this critically endangered bird.'

Jim Lawrence, BirdLife International's 'Preventing Extinctions' Programme Development Manager, said: 'It is fantastic news that Birdwatch has joined the 'Preventing Extinctions' Programme and has become one of a growing number of Species Champions.'

Dominic Mitchell, publisher and editor of Birdwatch, said: 'We are proud to support BirdLife on this important mission and look forward to encouraging our large number of readers to get behind this vital initiative.'

Already described as the biggest and most wide-ranging bird conservation programme the world has ever seen, BirdLife's Preventing Extinctions Programme aims to save all 189 Critically Endangered birds, by finding 'Species Champions' who will fund the work of identified 'Species Guardians' for each bird. SPEA is the Species Guardian for the Azores bullfinch.

The Azores bullfinch is closely related to the mainland Europe common bullfinch, but they are bigger, and the male 'priolo' doesn't have the bright plumage of their continental cousins. Instead, both male and female 'priolos' look very much like the female of the European bullfinch.