Some familiar feathered friends are on the latest national "watch list" of imperiled birds issued today by Audubon and the American Bird Conservancy.

The 2007 list includes a total of 178 species in the continental U.S. and 39 in Hawaii considered to be in the greatest need of conservation to survive in the face of habitat loss, invasive species, global warming and other threats. Ninety-eight are "red list" species of greatest concern, and 119 are on the “yellow list” of seriously declining or rare species.

Maine species made both the red and yellow lists, according to Audubon. The piping plover and least tern are on the red list. Both have been the focus of intensive restoration efforts along the Maine coast, but face constant pressure from coastal development, beachgoers and predators.

Only 35 pairs of piping plovers returned to nest in Maine this year, according to Audubon. The number has declined five years in a row and is now the lowest since 1994. Piping plovers are on the federal threatened species list and on the state’s endangered list. A total of 37 plover fledglings grew up on Maine beaches this summer.

Maine’s least tern population saw an increase in nesting pairs this year, with at least 150 pairs nesting from Wells to Scarborough, Audubon said.

Another red list species in Maine is Bicknell’s thrush. That’s a rare species that lives on Maine’s mountaintops, and concerns about the impact on its habitat has been a major reason some conservationists have opposed putting wind turbines on Redington and Black Nubble mountains.

Here’s the press release with more information about the list.

E-mail this entry to a friend