USFW says blackbird doesn't need endangered label

(Appeal Capitol Bureau) - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has rejected the petition to add the tricolored blackbird to the federal list of threatened and endangered species.

The bird, about 9 inches long with red and white stripes on its black wings, is found mostly in California but also Oregon, Washington and Nevada.

A wildlife spokesman said the blackbird's numbers have increased from 154,000 in 2000 to about 260,000 in 2005 even though its natural habitat - marshlands - have declined.

Federal officials say even though the petition to list the species as endangered was rejected, the fish and wildlife service is working on a conservation strategy including working with dairy operators to protect colonies nesting in their crop lands.