Rare Or Endangered Species?
The State of Vermont currently recognizes 31 bird species as either special concern, threatened, or endangered. Additionally, one of these birds is recognized as endangered under the Federal Endangered Species Act. If you discover individuals or nests of any of the species listed below, please immediately contact the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Nongame and Natural Heritage Program in Waterbury or the Vermont Institute of Natural Science Conservation Biology Department.
Therefore, let’s define our terms. A naturally occurring living thing can be “rare” in two main ways. First, it can be rare in the sense that it is nowhere common. Usually that’s because its habitat requirements are very specific, and this habitat itself is rare. For instance, a very rare bird sometimes occurring in the southern part of our Loess Hills is the Red-cockaded Woodpecker. This bird is almost completely dependent for nesting on old Loblolly, Longleaf, Slash, and Shortleaf Pines, especially those afflicted with the fungal disease called red heart, or red-ring rot, which attacks the trees’ heartwood. The bird prefers open, park-like woods such as those maintained by occasional burning. Even before humans came along with their intensively managed forests where trees are cut before reaching old age, and forest fires are controlled, Red-cockaded Woodpeckers must have been a bit rare.
