Spoon-billed sandpiper (IMAGE) Princeton University Caption The findings suggest that protecting species requires gaining a detailed understanding of exactly how animals interact with the landscape so that preserved habitats best serve endangered species' needs. Since the 1980s, the loss of tidal flats around the Yellow Sea has averaged 1.2% per year. Yet, the annual loss of the most endangered bird species has averaged between 5.1 and 7.5%, with populations of species such as the critically endangered spoon-billed sandpiper (Calidris pygmaea) climbing as high as 26% each year. Credit (Photo by Tong Mu, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology) Usage Restrictions None License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.