In a bid to highlight endangered Spanish bird species, the selection process for the Bird of the Year 2023 has begun on the SEO/BirdLife platform. The public is invited to vote for the finalist among three species currently labeled as Sensitive in Spain: Montagu’s Harrier, the Common Vulture, and the Iberian Bustard. The voting window closes on January 8 at 23:59 local time.
The Bird of the Year campaign, started in 1988, aims to raise awareness about the precarious status of select Spanish birds and the urgent need for habitat protection. The voting page can be found at seo.org/2023-elige-ave/.
Thus far, thirty-two species have been named Bird of the Year due to population declines or other conservation threats. The three contenders for 2023 are documented in the III Atlas of Birds During the Breeding Season in Spain, a key SEO/BirdLife reference that maps distribution, trends, and population data for the 450 species recorded in Spain during springtime.
Through this initiative, SEO/BirdLife seeks to draw attention to species requiring special protection, or to symbolize the urgency of safeguarding habitats. The goal is to encourage government and institutional action to preserve natural heritage for all people.
As the Executive Director noted, there is a growing threat to birds and a quieting of rural spaces. The organization will continue to advocate for protections that support biodiversity and healthy agricultural practices.
Montagu’s Harrier
Montagu’s Harrier has been a frequent candidate for Bird of the Year. This raptor is closely linked to farmland, nesting in cultivated fields of wheat and barley where large pastures are scarce. In exchange for shelter among crops, it helps farmers by preying on voles, mice, grasshoppers, and other pests.
Agricultural intensification is a major risk for this species. Nest and chick destruction during harvest, pesticide use, and shrinking prey availability all threaten its survival. Montagu’s Harrier populations are experiencing significant declines and the species is currently listed as Vulnerable in Spain.
The campaign emphasizes engaging communities, policymakers, and farmers to find shared solutions that prevent nest destruction during harvest and promote farming systems that better protect biodiversity. SEO/BirdLife stresses that collaboration is essential to balance productive farming with nature conservation.
Common Vulture
The Common Vulture, the Iberian Peninsula’s smallest vulture, stands out with its pale plumage and a bare, colorful face. It also features the distinctive, ragged feather edges on its head and neck that add to its striking appearance.
The most serious threat this species faces is unintentional poisoning from farm animals and related food shortages. It is currently classified as Sensitive in the Red Book of Birds in Spain. Other pressures include habitat loss, changes in wintering areas, human persecution, exposure to electricity, and collisions with energy infrastructure. Public authorities’ inaction or inefficiency compounds these dangers.
Despite a long presence across Spanish regions, the Common Vulture has suffered a substantial population decline in recent years. Public perceptions about vultures can be negative, yet these birds play a vital ecological role by removing diseased matter and contributing to agricultural cost savings. They are an integral part of rural ecosystem balance.
Iberian Bustard
The Iberian Bustard inhabits arid agricultural zones and vast drylands in Spain. It is a compact, sturdy bird whose colors blend with the landscapes it occupies. It is listed as Sensitive in the Red Book of Birds in Spain due to habitat variation and pressures from intensive farming, border reduction, fallow land loss, and the spread of olive groves and irrigation.
Urban development and the expansion of linear infrastructures, including solar and wind projects, along with illegal hunting and power lines, also threaten the species. Conservation measures call for reorienting agricultural policies toward agri-environmental programs, reducing pesticide use, promoting landscape diversification, supporting fallow land, and limiting irrigation to safeguard habitats.
Protecting the Iberian Bustard not only helps sustain its populations but also benefits other species inhabiting Spanish farmlands and the human activities tied to them. A variety of steppe ecosystems depend on a healthy agricultural environment for their existence.
Reddish Tail, Winner of 2022
The Reddish-tailed Frill was celebrated as Bird of the Year in 2022, recognized as Endangered in the Red Book of Birds in Spain. The conservation campaign involved engaging in land purchases, particularly in vineyard areas near Doñana, with support from private donations. This year’s outreach focuses on continued awareness and conservation actions to safeguard the red-tailed crow, its seasonal behavior, and habitat needs.
The 2023 Bird of the Year voting page remains on seo.org/2023-elige-ave/.
For further information about the conservation work, the environmental department can be contacted through the general outreach channels listed by SEO/BirdLife.
Overall, the Bird of the Year initiative underscores the essential link between biodiversity, agriculture, and human livelihoods. By spotlighting species at risk, the campaign encourages practical measures that support healthy landscapes and sustainable farming for generations to come.