A recent report reveals a concerning downturn in avian populations, with at least 112 bird species in North America seeing a decline of over 50% in the past half-century. Species experiencing the most significant drops include the Allen’s hummingbirds, Florida scrub jays, golden-cheeked warblers, tricolored blackbirds, and yellow-billed magpies.
“These declines are the direct result of failing to conserve and protect the essential habitats our bird populations rely on,” said Mike Brasher, a senior scientist at Ducks Unlimited who co-authored the study.
Ducks, once a beacon of successful avian conservation due to increasing populations even as other bird groups waned, are now showing troubling declines. The report indicates a 30% decrease in dabbling and diving ducks since 2017, attributed to habitat losses and prolonged droughts impacting the prairie pothole region’s wetlands in the Great Plains. Overall, waterfowl populations have fallen by 20% since 2014.
The comprehensive study was a collaborative effort involving Cornell University, Ducks Unlimited, the American Bird Conservancy, the National Audubon Society, and the American Ornithological Society. It utilized survey data from institutions like the U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and contributions from citizen science endeavors such as Cornell’s eBird. North America is home to around 2,000 bird species, and the study highlights that a third of the species examined are of high or moderate conservation concern due to declining numbers and habitat threats.
“These birds are in urgent need of conservation efforts,” stated Amanda Rodewald, a lead author from Cornell University. She noted that bird population trends also serve as indicators of habitat health.
The report pays special attention to species that rely on specific environments such as forests, grasslands, and coastal areas for breeding and feeding. Among those, grassland birds like the Bobolink are at especially high risk.
Peter Marra, a biologist from Georgetown University not directly involved in the report, compared the loss of each bird species to losing individual threads in the complex fabric of life. He cited past U.S. conservation triumphs, like the recovery of bald eagles, egrets, and ospreys, as proof that deliberate conservation strategies can succeed.
“We have demonstrated that targeted conservation plans can reverse negative trends, but we cannot afford to ignore the problem,” Marra emphasized.
