Latest news with #NorthAmericanBirdConservationInitiative
Axios
2 days ago
- General
- Axios
Birds in Florida and nationwide are vanishing — fast
Birds that call Florida's coastline and pine forests 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. What they're saying: A list of species that have lost more than half of their populations in the last 50 years is "like a hit parade of Florida birds," Audubon Florida executive director Julie Wraithmell told Axios. That's in part due to migration patterns, she said. "Florida has an outsized importance for birds of this hemisphere because we're kind of like a Grand Central Station." State of play: Coastal species, including the Wilson's plover, sanderling and least tern, have experienced steep declines, according to the North American Bird Conservation Initiative's 2025 State of the Birds report. So have woodland birds like the Bachman's sparrow and Florida scrub jay — the only bird endemic to the Sunshine State — as the pine forests they inhabit shrink or disappear due to development. Zoom in: Several of the declining shorebirds are nesting now along Tampa Bay beaches, Wraithmell said, including the least tern, Wilson's plover and snowy plover. So are black skimmers, a species that didn't make the list but that Wraithmell said is similarly struggling in Florida. Friction point: These birds lay their eggs directly on the beach, making their nests particularly vulnerable. That's why beachgoers may see areas of sand blocked off to pedestrians or Audubon Florida's bird stewards keeping watch. "People aren't expecting eggs in a small, shallow indentation of sand," Wraithmell said. "A single person cutting through can cause the failure of an entire colony." Struggling to find undisturbed beach sites, some birds have turned to flat gravel rooftops, which presents its own set of challenges. The big picture: It's not just Florida. 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. Conservation efforts helped the breeding population for American oystercatchers, which also nest along Tampa Bay beaches, bounce back 43% since 2009, although further conservation efforts are needed to sustain that recovery, 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.
Axios
19-05-2025
- General
- Axios
Birds in Virginia and nationwide are vanishing — fast
Birds that call Virginia's coast and mountains home are in serious decline. Why it matters: Birds are indicators of the health of their habitats and signal early warnings of broader trouble to the environment, and potentially people. By the numbers: In the past 50 years, Virginia species like Wilson's Plover — a signature bird of Virginia's barrier islands — have lost half of their population, per the North American Bird Conservation Initiative's 2025 State of the Birds report. The plover and the Golden-winged warbler are now labeled a "Tipping Point" species, meaning they could vanish within the next half-century without urgent conservation action. The cerulean warbler in Virginia's mountains has also seen its population crash in the past 50 years. Zoom in: The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources has said pollution, changing climate and "the sea level rise that comes with it" can impact Virginia's coastal birds. The report noted declines in eastern forest birds, like the Bachman's sparrow in Virginia, are partly due to habitat loss from residential development. Threat level: 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. The big picture: It's not just Virginia. 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.
Axios
06-05-2025
- General
- Axios
Utah's birds are disappearing fast
Birds that call Utah's mountains 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 probably can't sustain other wildlife — or even humans — for long. By the numbers: In the past 50 years, Utah species like the greater sage grouse, the desert-dwelling Bendire's thrasher and the sagebrush sparrow have seen their populations cut in half, per the North American Bird Conservation Initiative's 2025 State of the Birds report. The pinyon jay — a signature species of our pinyon-juniper woodlands — has lost 70% of its population since 1970. It's now labeled a "tipping point" species, meaning it could vanish unless urgent conservation action is taken. State of play: In the past 55 years, the West has lost almost half of arid-land bird habitat to drought, wildfires and invasive plants, the report states. Nearly a quarter of the 31 arid-land birds included in the analysis are considered tipping point species. Over half of western forest birds are declining. Zoom in: The shrinking Great Salt Lake is a critical hub for migratory birds, including about 21% of North America's endangered snowy plovers — also a tipping point species. The lake's long-billed dowitchers and sanderlings are also at the tipping point. Follow the money: 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 Utah. 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.
Axios
17-04-2025
- General
- Axios
Illinois birds in crisis: Report shows major decline in local species
Birds that call Illinois grasslands and wetlands home are in serious decline, according to a 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, Illinois species like the Henslow's Sparrow and Bobolink have seen population crashes of over 40%, per the North American Bird Conservation Initiative's 2025 State of the Birds report. The other side: The Northern Cardinal — a signature species in Illinois — has not experienced major declines in population. On the rise in the Chicago area is the Canadian Goose. 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 found. What they're saying: "It's a reality check for us, every time we do one of these," Mike Brasher, the 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. Zoom in: Chicago is home to the Mississippi Flyway, one of the major North American migratory routes. Millions of birds pass through the city, making bird-building collisions a problem. But bird collisions at McCormick Place have dropped significantly since the city installed better lighting. The big picture: It's not just Illinois. Researchers tracked species nationwide and found declines almost everywhere, even among birds that were once thought resilient, including urban birds like the White-throated Sparrow. Roughly one-third of U.S. bird species — 229 in total — are now classified as high or moderate conservation concerns. Since 1970, nearly half of aridland birds and 43% of grassland birds across the U.S., including the Eastern Meadowlark in Illinois, have disappeared. 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.
Axios
08-04-2025
- Science
- Axios
Arizona's birds are disappearing fast
Birds that call Arizona's desert ecosystem home — including the state's iconic cactus wren — 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. State of play: Since 1968, the West has lost almost half of aridland bird habitat to drought, wildfires and invasive plants, per the North American Bird Conservation Initiative's 2025 State of the Birds report. Nearly a quarter of the 31 aridland birds included in the analysis are considered "tipping point" species, meaning they could vanish without urgent conservation action. This includes the sagebrush sparrow, black-chinned sparrow and Pinyon Jay, which can be found in parts of Arizona. The big picture: It's not just Arizona. 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. 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. 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.
