Bird Apocalypse
Mar. 14th, 2025 04:43 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ysabetwordsmith posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
birdfeedingUS bird populations continue alarming decline
2025 State of the Birds Report calls for urgent conservation action.
The 2025 U. S. State of the Birds Report, produced by a coalition of leading science and conservation organizations, reveals continued widespread declines in American bird populations across all mainland and marine habitats, with 229 species requiring urgent conservation action.
The release of the 2025 U.S. State of the Birds report was announced today at the 90th annual North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference in Louisville, Kentucky. The report, produced by a coalition of leading science and conservation organizations, reveals continued widespread declines in American bird populations across all mainland and marine habitats, with 229 species requiring urgent conservation action. The report comes five years after the landmark 2019 study that documented the loss of 3 billion birds in North America over 50 years.
Key findings from the new report show that more than one-third of U.S. bird species are of high or moderate conservation concern, including 112 Tipping Point species that have lost more than 50% of their populations in the last 50 years. That includes 42 red-alert species facing perilously low populations, such as Allen's Hummingbird, Tricolored Blackbird, and Saltmarsh Sparrow -- birds that are at risk without immediate intervention.
Remember what I just said about the butterfly apocalypse? No butterflies and moths --> no caterpillars --> no birds, because most terrestrial birds raise their chicks on nature's hotdogs.
2025 State of the Birds Report calls for urgent conservation action.
The 2025 U. S. State of the Birds Report, produced by a coalition of leading science and conservation organizations, reveals continued widespread declines in American bird populations across all mainland and marine habitats, with 229 species requiring urgent conservation action.
The release of the 2025 U.S. State of the Birds report was announced today at the 90th annual North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference in Louisville, Kentucky. The report, produced by a coalition of leading science and conservation organizations, reveals continued widespread declines in American bird populations across all mainland and marine habitats, with 229 species requiring urgent conservation action. The report comes five years after the landmark 2019 study that documented the loss of 3 billion birds in North America over 50 years.
Key findings from the new report show that more than one-third of U.S. bird species are of high or moderate conservation concern, including 112 Tipping Point species that have lost more than 50% of their populations in the last 50 years. That includes 42 red-alert species facing perilously low populations, such as Allen's Hummingbird, Tricolored Blackbird, and Saltmarsh Sparrow -- birds that are at risk without immediate intervention.
Remember what I just said about the butterfly apocalypse? No butterflies and moths --> no caterpillars --> no birds, because most terrestrial birds raise their chicks on nature's hotdogs.
(no subject)
Date: 2025-03-15 06:30 pm (UTC)Yes ...
Date: 2025-03-15 06:52 pm (UTC)These are northeast pollinator plants, which should help make caterpillars, which feed baby birds. Download the PDF.
This is a more detailed guide to Rhode Island natives. Keystone plants give you the most bang for your buck; this list is for eastern temperate forests. It also has a list of host plants for caterpillars listed in descending order of number of species supported. This nursery has a page for Rhode Island natives.
Keep a sharp eye out for Earth Day and Arbor Day giveaways. Sometimes they have good stuff.
(no subject)
Date: 2025-03-15 08:13 pm (UTC)I took it as a reminder to make a donation, which I was already meaning to make, to the BC Parks Foundation, which is currently running a crowdfunding campaign to protect a piece of endangered grassland near Kamloops, British Columbia. The area is home to 30 species of birds, as well as butterflies, bighorn sheep, and old-growth trees. Hopefully my donation will help to ensure that it gets protected!
Thoughts
Date: 2025-03-15 08:35 pm (UTC)Well, you do have a LOT of wilderness up there, some of which is prime bird territory. I would look for Canadian surveys that aim to identify biological hotspots, such as summer breeding grounds for migratory birds or heavy-traffic flyways, and then prioritize protecting those areas.
>> I took it as a reminder to make a donation <<
:D You just validated my vocation for the day. Thanks for letting me know.
(no subject)
Date: 2025-03-15 09:39 pm (UTC)Yes ...
Date: 2025-03-16 12:29 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2025-03-16 01:48 pm (UTC)i know on the canadian side of things a lot of it really relies on habitat loss for a lot of species that are marsh obligate or ground obligate breeders.
im hoping a turn can be made for most species, theres been upticks in some regaining populations (like the least bittern) im just hoping that we can make at least a small difference to help populations.