This article explores trainee teachers' conceptions and ideas about endangered bird species and their protection. The study involved 191 students majoring in kindergarten education, primary school natural science or secondary school biology education at the University of Ljubljana Faculty of Education, Slovenia. Data analyses showed that the majority of students thought that human intervention is needed to protect endangered bird species. One out of five gave no answer to the question posed, or lacked knowledge to address the issue. Only a few of the answers indicated the importance of education in the protection of endangered bird species. (Contains 3 tables and 1 figure.)