|
Birds
are important indicators of the overall health of our
environment. Like the proverbial canaries in the coal mine,
they send an urgent warning about threats to our water, air,
natural resources, climate and more.
A new
analysis by the National Audubon Society reveals that
populations of some of America�s most familiar and beloved
birds have taken a nosedive over the past forty years, with
some down as much as 80 percent.
The dramatic declines are attributed to the loss of healthy
forests, wetlands, grasslands, and other critical habitats
from environmental threats such as sprawl, energy
development, and the spread of industrialized agriculture,
all compounded by global warming. What emerges is a
challenging picture for the future of many common bird
species and a serious warning about our local habitats and
the environment itself.
�These
are not rare or exotic birds we�re talking about� these are
the birds that visit our feeders and congregate at nearby
lakes and seashores and yet they are disappearing day by day,�
said Audubon Chairperson and former EPA Administrator, Carol
Browner. �Their decline tells us we have serious work to do,
from protecting local habitats to addressing the huge
threats from global warming.�
The table below shows those
hardest hit species on Audubon�s list of 20 Common Birds in
Decline:
�Direct
habitat loss continues to be a leading cause for concern,�
said Audubon Bird Conservation Director and analysis author,
Greg Butcher, PhD. �But now we�re seeing the added impact of
large-scale environmental problems and policies.�
Butcher
notes that global warming is damaging key habitats and
speeding the spread of invasive species
that spur further declines. Mounting demand for corn-based
fuels is expected to result in increased agricultural use of
marginal farmland that currently serves as important
habitat. The fate of species such as Eastern Meadowlarks and
Loggerhead Shrikes could hinge on efforts to conserve these
areas.
Public
response will shape the long-term outlook for the listed
species. Unlike
WatchList birds, these Common Birds in Decline are not in
immediate danger of extinction, despite global populations
as low as 500,000 for some species. But even birds with
significantly higher overall populations are experiencing
sharp declines, and their ultimate fate is uncertain.
Audubon leaders hope the multiple threats to the birds
people know and love will prompt individuals to take action
locally and on state and national levels.
Audubon's
Common Birds in Decline list stems from the first-ever
analysis combining annual sighting data from Audubon's
century-old Christmas Bird Count program with results of the
annual Breeding Bird Survey conducted by the U.S. Geological
Survey. "This is a
powerful example of how tens of thousands of volunteer
birders, pooling their observations, can make an enormous
difference for the creatures they care the most about," said
noted natural history writer Scott Weidensaul. "Thanks to
their efforts, we have the information. Now all of us � from
birders to policy makers � need to take action to keep these
species from declining even further."
�Fortunately, people�s actions can still make a difference,�
Audubon�s Greg Butcher adds. �Average citizens can change
the fate of these birds just as average citizens helped us
confirm the trouble they face.�
This
article is condensed from information obtained at
http://Audubon.org
For
more information, also visit:
http://www.abcbirds.org/greenlist.htm
www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/literatr/wetbird/index.htm
|
