Birds in Colorado and nationwide are vanishing — fast
Birds that call Colorado's high plains and deserts home are in serious decline, according to a sweeping new conservation report.
Why it matters: Birds are indicators of the overall health of their habitats and signal early warnings of broader trouble. If these habitats can't support birdlife, they likely can't sustain other wildlife — or even humans — for long.
By the numbers: In the past 50 years, Colorado species like the mountain plover and Baird's sparrow have seen population crashes over 67%, per the North American Bird Conservation Initiative's 2025 State of the Birds report.
The pinyon jay — a signature species of Colorado's pinyon-juniper woodlands — has lost 70% of its population. It's now labeled a "Tipping Point" species, meaning it could vanish without urgent conservation action.
Zoom out: Since 1970, nearly half of aridland birds and 43% of grassland birds across the U.S., including the Western meadowlark in Colorado, have disappeared.
Between the lines: A blow to birds is a blow to the economy. From birding tourism to pest control and pollination, birds generate nearly $280 billion annually for the U.S. economy, the report finds.
What they're saying: "It's a reality check for us, every time we do one of these," Mike Brasher, co-chair of the report's science committee, told Audubon magazine.
"Threats to birds [and] bird habitat are as great now as they have ever been, and they're accelerating, in most cases," Brasher said.
The big picture: It's not just Colorado. Researchers tracked species nationwide and found declines almost everywhere — even among birds once thought resilient, like waterfowl.
Roughly one-third of U.S. bird species — 229 in total — are now classified as high or moderate conservation concerns.
Yes, but: There are signs of hope. Thanks to wetland protections, dabbling and diving duck populations have jumped 24% since 1970, while waterbirds are up 16%, per the report.
What's next: Scientists are calling for bigger investments in habitat protection — particularly on private lands and in partnership with local communities and Indigenous nations.
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Click Here To Sign Up For Our Health Newsletter The FDA states on its website that it does regulate dietary supplement products and dietary ingredients, but under "a different set of regulations than those covering 'conventional' foods and drug products." "Manufacturers and distributors of dietary supplements and dietary ingredients are prohibited from marketing products that are adulterated or misbranded," the agency says. "That means that these firms are responsible for evaluating the safety and labeling of their products before marketing to ensure that they meet all the requirements of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act as amended by DSHEA and FDA regulations." For more Health articles, visit Fox News Digital reached out to several researchers and the FDA regarding the rise in drug- and HSD-related liver article source: Common supplements and medications could cause liver damage, studies show
