Darwin mangrove finch facing extinction in Galapagos

According to the Independent, scientists have warned that the mangrove finch--the rarest of all members of a family of birds on the Galapagos islands collectively known as Darwin's Finches--is now facing the threat of extinction. There are reportedly fewer than 50 pairs of the rare birds left on the Galapagos Islands. In a desperate effort to prevent the extinction of the mangrove finch, a broad alliance of wildlife conservation groups have recently launched a program designed to control threatening invasive species and begin captive breeding of the birds. Little is known regarding the actual reproduction patterns of mangrove finches, which are said to hatch eggs on a two or three year breeding cycle. The dangerously low mangrove finch population is said to have resulted in part from increased numbers of humans infiltrating and in many cases destroying their natural habitats in the Galapagos (for example, the destruction of mangrove forests for firewood), as well as introducing invasive exotic species into their local ecosystems. Link to the story below. -TW

Darwin finch could disappear from Galapagos islands (The Independent)