"Shocking Study Reveals Humans Have Driven Double the Number of Bird Species to Extinction"
A new study published in Nature Communications reveals that human-driven extinction of bird species is twice as high as previously estimated. Approximately 12% of the world's bird species, or around 1,430 species, have gone extinct due to human activity since the Late Pleistocene period. This estimate includes "dark extinctions," where the events were not recorded. The study focused on island bird populations, which are particularly vulnerable to extinction. Deforestation, overhunting, fires, and invasive species are identified as key causes of bird species loss. The research highlights the significant loss of avian species richness, ecological diversity, and evolutionary history, emphasizing the urgent need for conservation efforts to protect bird habitats and prevent future extinctions.