Black-capped vireo no longer considered endangered

[TexasTowelie]

In the latest turn in the divisive saga involving rare Central Texas species, the population of a songbird has recovered enough for it to move off the endangered species list, U.S. Fish and Wildlife officials will announce Wednesday.

The lifting of habitat protections for the black-capped vireo, long a bulwark against development, is unlikely to open long restricted areas to building, given the number of other species that remain protected. But property rights groups and some birders greeted the proposal as good news for a tiny bird.

Nearly 30 years ago — with their nests overrun by another bird species and their shrubby habitat destroyed under the hooves of goats — black-capped vireos were declared endangered.

At the time, there were an estimated 350 adult birds in the United States and Mexico.

Read more: http://www.mystatesman.com/news/black-capped-vireo-longer-considered-endangered/9c97Qv1TGRE0DTkacrt2XN/