Wildlife conservation photographer Carla Rhodes told Bored Panda that she loves working with birds. "Simply put, they keep you on your toes as a wildlife photographer."

"They are magical creatures coming in a stunning array of colors, shapes, and sizes. All wildlife photography is challenging, especially birds who are often far away, tiny, and incredibly quick… Especially when they are in flight!" she said.

Rhodes, who's done a lovely project called 'Beneath The Bird Feeder,' said that the environment is a key part of wildlife photography.

"By showing the animal’s environment in the photo, you are able to communicate a larger story, especially about the habitat in which the animal occurs."

"Birds live in many different types of environments, which can create stunning and varied photos. On the flip side, this can create challenging situations (for example, warblers who are tiny, speedy, and often high up in trees or in dense thickets)," she explained.

But the thing Rhodes loves most about birds is their varied personalities. "Some birds are shy, some are more friendly and some are highly intelligent and possibly plotting to take over the world (I'm looking at you, corvids)!"

"For further example: endangered greater adjutant storks in India are one of my favorite birds that I've ever photographed. I found these 5-foot-tall birds to have a stoic and commanding presence."

"Closer to home here in the Catskill Mountains of New York, USA, I find black-capped chickadees and dark-eyed juncos to be especially curious and hilarious subjects."

However, according to the State of the World's Birds report, which is released every four years by BirdLife International, the expansion and intensification of agriculture is putting pressure on 73% of species.

Logging, invasive species, exploitation of natural resources, and climate breakdown are the other main threats.

Globally, 49% of bird species are in decline, one in eight are being threatened with extinction, and at least 187 species are confirmed or suspected to have gone extinct since 1500.

Most of these have been endemic species living on islands, although there is an increase in birds now going extinct on larger land masses, particularly in tropical regions.

In Ethiopia, for example, the conversion of grassland to farmland has caused an 80% decrease in endemic Liben larks since 2007.

Just 6% of bird species globally are increasing. "We have to stop these declines and start getting on track for recovery," Dr. Stuart Butchart, chief scientist at BirdLife International, said.

"Our future, as well as the world’s birds, depends on it. If we continue to unravel the fabric of life, we’re going to continue to place our own future at threat.”