I made few time ago a pair of plates about extinct birds: www.flickr.com/photos/10770266@N04/5043889621/ www.flickr.com/photos/10770266@N04/5047524752/  But a thing is most important that see what we done without solution: the history will be repeated again, but we can give a chance for survive to these evanishing species. We even don't know if some of them are still here... Will they survive? Who knows? All depend of our species behaviour!  1. Madagascar fish eagle (Haliaeetus vociferoides) Endemic of western Madagascar, this critically endangered species will find many difficults by survive the deforestation, erosion and destruction of marshes for make rice fields, between many other threats as direct persecution or pollution. Total population it's about only 40-90 breeding pairs, and continue decreasing, although in last years seems that the decline was stabilished.  2. Blue duck (Hymenolaimus malacorhynchus) Endemic of New Zealand, endangered and the only in his genus. Although this species is able to fly, it's reluctanct to do it, so it's very vulnerable to introduced foxes, cats, australian possums, rats and other non-native predators that already deleted many New Zealand endemics in the past. Also it's difficult for them find food, because introduced trouts eat all. And hydroelectrics damage the rivers where it live. This species is very poorly known in aviculture so it's future is uncertain - and one of the very few captive specimens out of New Zealand resulted to be homosexual. Population is under 1200 individuals and continue decreasing.  3. Puna grebe (Podiceps taczanowskii) This species is evanishing now. Endemic of lake Junin in Peru, it's treated as Critically endangered, with a population of less than 250 individuals, while it was very common in the past. Now restricted to the south of the lake, this grebe is finding troubles for support the pollution due to miners, because this species is very sensitive to these toxic substances, overall iron oxid it's the major problem. Also the variation of the water level, regulated too by these mining companies, it's a problem. The lake is declarated national reserve, with regulation of hunt and fishing, but the major problem is in the water. Population is calculated of about 40-250 individuals and continue decreasing.  4. Blue chaffinch (Fringilla teydea) Endemic of Tenerife and Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands, the Gran Canaria subspecies (polazteki) almost disappeared in 2008 due to a provocated fire that destroyed the last natural pine forest of the island. Fortunately the few remaining birds, no more than 150, was able to colonizate repoblation forest on the highest part of the island and had a successful recovering. The other subspecies, F. t. teydea from Tenerife, is not as endangered, making the whole species only "Near Threatened". But due to the small size of his distribution area (Canary Pine forests only) and the high risk of destruction by fire (this pine species is pyrophyte), I think that it could disappear quickly. These pine forest are very fragmented too, making the different populations be isolated. Population is about 1800-4500 individuals, but fortunately not decreasing but stable.  5. Seychelles paradise-flycatcher (Terpsiphone corvina) This bird is treated as Critically endagered because only lives in a national park of an island, La Digue island on Seychelles, although in the past was more widespread. In this island the habitat for this species was quickly disappearing. Fortunately an habitat management started and the species is now increasing, and alwo was reintroduced successfully in Denis island where it lived in the past. However the population continue being only of 210-278 birds, a very risky numbers. And the Seychelles will be the first islands in disappear underseas due to the water level increase that it's produced by global warming. So the future for it is still uncertain.  6. Prince Ruspoli's turaco (Tauraco ruspolii) The destruction of the Ethiopian forests make this endemic species vulnerable. The well conserved patches of forest are isolated ones from others broking the genetic exchange. With about 10000 individuals in 1995, now it experimented a decline of between 10 and 30 % and this decline continue.  7. Ivory-billed Woodpecker (Campephilus principalis). Probably the most well known of the evanishing birds. With the Imperial woodpecker (C. imperialis), that was the largest woodpecker on Earth, this one, being the second, was listed as Extinct in the past, however, the Cuban subspecies, C. p. bairdii, was rediscovered on 1987, and in recent times a male was saw on 2004 on Arkansas, and more birds was seen on Florida on 2006. Nobody knows if today the species still survive or if it's extinct forever, but it's listed yet as Critically endangered. The strong decline of this species in the past, was because of direct hunt and by the destruction of the native Swamp Cypress forests, for agricultural uses or timber. As this last threat continue today, it's probable that the bird don't survive anymore. For this bird, it's said that it's very sensitive to human disturbing, abandoning the nest when molested, what makes even more tiny the possibilities of surviving.  8. Jerdon's courser (Rhinoptilus bitorquatus) This nocturnal Indian bird was listed as Extinct until the spectacular rediscovering in 1986. Today only found in Sri Lankamalleshwara Sanctuary, in south-eastern India, but critically endangered by habitat destruction. The construction of a dam made the local people be relocated in the area where this bird still survive, what resulted in more disturbs, forest destruction for timber, quarrying, and extension of cultivation fields. Between 50 and 250 birds are calculated, and decline continue.  9. Slender-billed curlew (Numenius tenuirostris) This birds seems that are following the steps of the already extinct Eskimo curlew (Numenius borealis). This wader, treated as Critically Endangered (although maybe it's already extinct) breeds in Siberia and pass the winter in the Mediterranean. No more than 50 birds remain, if remain some. Only about three or four verified sightings in last decade, very probably this bird will the first European species to be extint since last Great Auks died in 1844. The hunt was the primary cause of its possible extinction, followed by habitat destruction. 20 birds was saw on Italy in 1995, one in England at 1998, in Danube Delta was saw in 2003 and 2004, and an unconfirmed sight in Albania on 2007.  10. Forest owlet (Athene blewitti) This Indian endemic was not seen since 1884 and treated as Extinct, until the spectacular rediscovering in 1997 far of the area where it was supposed to inhabit. The forests where this owl liver are very fragmented so the bird is critically endangered. An exhaustive search in 2000 resulted in location of 25 individuals. The forests of the plains where it lived are completely disappeared and still exist a big pressure over the remaining mountain forests. The current population is estimated under 250 individuals and still decreasing.  11. Laysan honeycreeper (Palmeria dolei) As many of the hawaiian honeycreepers (Drepanididae) that disappeared forever due to diseases transmited by introduced mosquitos, this bird is also critically endangered for this reason. Found only in Maui island, although in the past it was also found in Molokai, where it disappeared in 1907, and the bird was listed as Extinct until rediscovery of Maui population. Introduced pests such as rats, cats, owls, pigs, mongooses, deers and overall, goats, also plays, destroying the habitat of this species. Less than 3800 birds remain and still decreasing quickly.  12. White-shouldered ibis (Pseudibis davisoni) A rare, critically endangered bird of south-east Asia less than 500 birds. In 2010 429 birds was found on Camboya. It's confronting deforestation, drainage of wetlands, direct hunt and other causes. Long decreasing tendence until last two or three years.  13. Kinglet cotinga (Calyptura cristata) This species is as critically endangered as the habitat where it lives, the incredible paradise of unique biodiversity that are the Atlantic Forest of SE Brazil. These exclusive forest, that have one of the highest endemic species proportion in the world, are quickly being destroyed. This bird was believed to be extinct until two birds was well seen during various days in 1996. No new records and the population is estimated to be under 50 birds and still decreasing.  14. Sociable lapwing (Vanellus gregarius) A very traveler bird, this critically endangered species was seen even in Spain various times in recent years. It breeds in Russia and Kazakhstan and winter in Israel, Syria, Eritrea, Sudan and India. The widely distributed bird had a very quickly decline in last years for not well known reasons. In 2006 population was counted between 600 and 1800 birds. It's calculated that in next decade it will suffer a decline of about the 80%.  15. Araripe mannikin (Antilophia bokermanni) This spectacular bird discovered as new for science as lately as in1996, is endemic to an extremely small (fifty kilometers long and one wide) area on Araripe, Ceará, Brazil. Apparently it's only found in determinate soil formation from Cretaceous. In 2000 was calculated to have less than 50 individuals, and in this year, a theme park with swimming pools and asphalted roads was built just in the type locality of the discovering. The close forests was destroyed and substituted by banana cultives. Today are supposed to be less than 500 individuals, but continue decreasing.  16. Chinese crested tern (Sterna bernsteini) Given as extinct until it was rediscovered on 2000, this seabird counts with less than 50 birds, living in China, Taiwan, Indonesia, Thailand and Philippines. In 2007 was said that the bird would be extinct in 5 years if authorities don't protect it. Egg recollection (the main threat), disturbs and destruction of beaches continued and probably this prophecy will be certain.  17. Black stilt (Himantopus novaezelandiae) The rarest of the world waders, this New Zealand endemic is the most distictive of all the stilt species. In 1981 all birds was reduced to only 23, and then the first management program for the species began. Now in 2010 the population increased to 85 wild birds and 13 captive ones, but this continue being the same border of the extinction. It breeds on a small area of South Island. Their habitat is severally damaged and destroyed, while introduced predators such as ermine continue causing a lot of damage. As often happens with very endangered species, hybridation with common closely related species, that would not be a threat if the species was not endangered, also plays a rule.  18. Night parrot (Geopsittacus occidentalis) This enigmatic australian desert nocturnal bird was not seen since 1979, leaving it as a extinct species, however, the entire world was surprised by the discovering of a dead bird, in too good condition for be very old, roadkilled, appeared in 1990, and in 2005 three birds was reported, while in 2006 a dead bird was found, apparently collided with a fence. Due to nocturnal habitats, good camouflage, and very big extension and low human population of the area where it lives, it's very possible that the species are still around, being very difficult to locate. Probably is not extinct but it's population is in any case lesser than 50 individuals - the egde for Critically Endangered.  19. Hawaiian crow (Corvus tropicus). This species already disappeared from nature since 2002, and only exist in captivity, but unfortunately, the bird is poorly known in aviculture, so it don't have a sure future as the Bali mynah or Socorro dove do. Probably it was affected by diseases transmited by introduced mosquitoes, that make disappear so many Hawaiian birds. The 78 captive hawaiian crows in the world has been breeded but the attempts of liberate the new crows always resulted in predation by the native Hawaiian buzzard (Buteo solitarius).  20. Negros fruit-dove (Ptilinopus arcanus) Not recorded since it's discovering in 1953, but due to an unconfirmed sight in 2002, it's probably that the species still exist, overall because the zone is poorly investigated and the habitat is difficult to prospect. Any remaining population would be very small and threatening factors (direct hunt and habitat destruction) continue. The only specimen was collected on Negros island in the Philippines but maybe could be present at Panay island, because some very endangered species of birds supposedly endemic to Negros was found recently on Panay. Today only remain the 4% of the forest that Negros had in 1988, and this tiny rest are fragmented and very endangered because destruction for cultives and timber continues with big pression.  21. Spix's macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) As the Hawaiian crow, this bird disappeared completely from the wild since last free specimen, a male, died in 2000. Fortunately, Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation Trust and some other breeding facilities, have detailed programs for this species and brought to life a number of new chicks. 85 birds exist in captivity. The bird disappeared from Brazil due to direct hunt by illegal pet trade, habitat destruction and introduction of the aggresive Africanized bees, that takes nest holes and even kills nesting birds.  22. Alagoas curassow (Mitu mitu) This brazilian bird is as well extinct in the wild, and in aviculture its future is not sure, due to the poor knowlegde and use of the species in captivity as well as an strong hybridation with the related Razor-billed curassow (Mitu tuberosa). Deforestation and direct hunt are why the species disappeared from nature, the last free one was killed in 1984. Only few dozens of pure-blood birds still remains, and almost all in private aviaries.  23. Okinawa woodpecker (Sapheopipo noguchii) A brown bird that only exist at Japanese subtropical island of Okinawa. The forest of these island continue being destroyed quickly for timber extraction, cultivation fields, dams and golf courses. That maks this bird Critically Endangered, with less than 600 birds and continue decreasing.  24. Giant ibis (Thaumatibis gigantea) Mainly in Cambodia, with a few birds in Vietnam and Laos, the largest of the world's ibises have less than 100 pairs. Direct hunt, forest destruction and disturbs make this tiny population continue decreasing.  25. Brazilian merganser (Mergus octosetaceus) One of the most threatened ducks in the world, strangely this bird is not kept in captivity anywhere. World population have less than 250 birds and still decreasing. This species is very sensitive to habitat degradation, and all the human activities around can make this species disappear quickly.