The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recommends the endangered black-capped vireo, a migratory songbird that ranges from Oklahoma, Texas and into Mexico, be reclassified to threatened status under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The downlisting recommendation is a result of a recently completed status review of the bird.
The black-capped vireo was listed as endangered in 1987. At that time, the estimated population was 256 to 525 pairs of vireos, occurring in four counties in Oklahoma, 21 counties in Texas, and one Mexican state. According to the Service's current status review, the known population in recent years shows an increase of more than 6,200 vireos inhabiting three counties in Oklahoma, 38 counties in Texas, and three states in Mexico.
Downlisting a species from endangered to threatened is a step in the road to recovery. The Service estimates it will not begin the downlisting process until 2009 due to prior commitments.
"Recovery is our goal," said Joy Nicholopoulos, the Services Administrator for endangered species issues in Texas. "The work we have accomplished with our partners is part of the reason that the status of the black-capped vireo is improving, which moves us closer to our goal."
Major threats at the time of listing included habitat loss through land conversion, grazing and browsing by domestic and wild herbivores, predation, brood parasitism by brown-headed cowbirds and changes in vegetation. Over the last two decades, the Service has worked with many federal, state and private partners to put into practice conservation actions and research projects that benefit the black-capped vireo.
Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge, consisting of 21,436 acres, was established in 1992 near Austin, Texas to protect and manage habitat for the black-capped vireo and golden-cheeked warbler. Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge is also home to the vireo and provides a protected stronghold for the vireo in Oklahoma.
