Climate Connections Major hurricanes likely pushed a small Bahamanian bird to extinction
Nov 5, 2025
David Pereira, a researcher from the University of Birmingham, discusses his findings on the Bahama nuthatch, a bird driven towards extinction by hurricanes Matthew and Dorian. He shares heartbreaking accounts from his 2018 field study, where he witnessed the bird's decline exacerbated by habitat loss and invasive predators. Pereira emphasizes the urgent need for conservation efforts, suggesting a watch list for vulnerable species to prioritize breeding programs and other protective measures.
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Hurricanes Can Trigger Extinctions
- Island-endemic species face catastrophic risk when a major hurricane strikes their single habitat.
- Hurricanes Matthew and Dorian likely wiped out the Bahama Nuthatch after decades of decline.
Last Sightings Of A Lost Bird
- The Bahama Nuthatch once lived only on Grand Bahama and had long declined from habitat loss and invasive predators.
- David Pereira saw one of the last nuthatches during a 2018 field study, a sighting that made him feel very sad.
Stronger Storms Raise Extinction Risk
- Climate change is increasing hurricane strength, raising extinction risk for isolated island species.
- Stronger storms make already vulnerable populations far more likely to be lost in a single event.