Update: 10:20AM FIJIS Long-legged warbler has been placed on the list of endangered world wide birds facing extinction by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
Birdlife International Fiji Programme senior conservation officer Vilikesa Masibalavu said this was a wake up call for the country.
He said the long-legged Warblers were only found in Fiji and was thought to have become extinct until 2003 when one was sited in the Wabu Nature Reserve in central Viti Levu.
"There are only an estimated 230 of these birds left in the world so we are fortunate to have confirmed that a few still exist in the forests of Viti Levu," said Mr Masibalavu.
He stressed the importance of protecting Fiji's birds from predators like the mongoose and from deforestation.
"The Long-legged Warbler is a ground living bird which means its eggs and young chicks are prey to the Mongoose and rats."
"We have already lost 14 species of ground nesting birds from the Fiji islands inhabited by mongoose."
Mr. Masibalavu said he was working closely with the landowners and the Government on a project sponsored by the UK Government Darwin Initiative to develop managed areas of forest 'to protect our natural heritage'.