Notes from the Field: Birds in decline
A widely reported recent study published in the journal Science concludes that the total bird population in the United States and Canada has dropped by 29%, or 2.9 billion fewer birds, since 1970. The study was authored by scientists from universities, research centers, conservation organizations, and government agencies, and based on a comprehensive analysis of decades of survey data on 529 species of North American birds as well as corroborating weather radar images of nocturnal migratory avifaunal biomass.
We need to protect wildlife habitat so that our bird species can survive. Central Oregon LandWatch uses the power of the law to ensure the government upholds the rules that protect habitat on private and public lands.
Photo of Western Meadowlark Gregg Thompson, BirdNote
This precipitous population crash is seen across different types of biomes, most dramatically among grassland species, and across most families of birds, including even widespread and common species. Reference is made to the past rapid extinction of the Passenger Pigeon, “once likely the most numerous bird on the planet” and to the Anthropocene Extinction, an increasingly apropos term for the hominid-originated mass extinction event seemingly punctuating the current geological epoch.
“Birds are excellent indicators of environmental health and ecosystem integrity,” state the authors of the study; this staggering decline in numbers, along with similar broad population crashes in amphibians and insects, reflects an accelerating unraveling of the fundamental fabric of the natural world.
Causes include habitat loss from land conversion to agriculture and development as well as direct mortality from pesticides and domestic cats.
Fortunately, bird populations are resilient and can recover if measures are taken. Following wetland protections, many waterfowl species are thriving. Following the ban on the pesticide DDT, Bald Eagle, Osprey, and Peregrine Falcon populations have been recovering nicely. Restrictions on the use of lead shot are a factor in the nascent restoration of the California Condor.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
There are several actions individuals can take to help reverse the broad declines in many other bird species.
Our pet cats, responsible for killing billions of birds every year, should be kept indoors.
Routine use of pesticides and herbicides in yards and gardens should be curtailed.
Eliminating outdoor nighttime lighting helps reduce the light pollution that disrupts the behavioral rhythms of birds and other animals.
Decreasing consumption generally helps mitigate our collective ecological footprint.
Participation in volunteer bird surveys and other citizen science opportunities contributes significantly to understanding population trends and basic ecology.
Supporting Central Oregon LandWatch and other conservation organizations helps us in our work to protect lands that provide critical habitat for birds and other wildlife.