US declares 21 endangered species EXTINCT: Two types of freshwater fish, 10 birds and the Little Mariana fruit bat are officially lost

The US Fish and Wildlife Service declared 21 species extinct, including 10 birds and two freshwater fish, calling the moment a “wake-up call.”

But one bird wasn’t on the list: the ivory-billed woodpecker.

Many species haven’t been seen for decades, and scientists have now determined they’re extinct — 50 years after the Endangered Species Act took effect.

The Fish and Wildlife Service calls the moment a “wake-up call,” adding that it “underscores how human activity can lead to the decline and extinction of species by contributing to habitat loss, overuse, and the introduction of invasive species and diseases.”

Researchers believe the ivory-billed woodpecker may still be alive

“Federal protection comes too late to reverse the decline of these species, and serves as a wake-up call to the importance of conserving imperiled species before it is too late,” said Service Director Martha Williams.

“As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act this year, we remember the law’s purpose to be a safety net that stops the journey toward extinction.

“The ultimate goal is to recover these species, so that they no longer need the protection of the law.”

The 21 species will now be delisted from the Endangered Species Act.

One bird was conspicuous by its absence, the ivory-billed woodpecker, which appeared on a proposed list of 23 species scheduled to be delisted in 2021.

The last accepted sighting of a woodpecker was in 1944 — but there have been recent unconfirmed sightings, including one by ornithologists from the National Aviary in Pittsburgh earlier this year.

Earlier this year, grainy photos emerged that appeared to show the bird – known as the Godbird – flying through a Louisiana forest.

“The Service will continue to analyze and review the information before making a decision on delisting the ivory-billed woodpecker,” the agency said.

“I applaud the Service’s decision to postpone the extinction declaration, because the scientific community is by no means certain about the status of this iconic woodpecker,” John Fitzpatrick, retired director emeritus of the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, told CNN.

“The evidence for it continues to emerge, although none of it is 100 percent convincing for everyone.”

Kauaʻi ‘o’o was last seen in 1987

Maui Nokobo was last seen in 1996

Gambusia san Marcos was last seen in Texas in 1983

Bachmann’s warbler was last seen in the 1960s – although unconfirmed sightings continued into the 1980s

Many of the species now declared extinct were listed under the ESA in the 1970s and 1980s, and were “at very low numbers or likely already extinct at the time of listing,” the agency said.

After public comment, the agency withdrew one species — Phyllostegia glabra var. lanaiensis (a perennial Hawaiian herb that belongs to the mint family and has no common name) – due to new surveys identifying new habitats that may be suitable for this species.

Species that have been condemned to extinction include Bachmann’s warbler, previously found in Florida, and several species found in Hawaii.

Eight species of mussels and the little Mariana fruit bat, previously found on Guam, have also been removed.

Of the species omitted, all but two were first listed as threatened with extinction before 1990, and none have had confirmed sightings in the 21st century.

The ESA has protected 99% of listed species from extinction, with more than 100 plant or animal species delisted based on their recovery, the agency says.