The study states that there are 432 million fewer birds today in 2007 than there were 40 years ago in 1967.

According to historical tracking of birds by the National Audubon Society (NAS) and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), twenty of the most common species of birds are down in numbers, on average, by around 54% since 1967. For example, the whippoorwill is down by 57%, primarily due to loss of its forest habitat.

However, the biggest decline in any bird species was found to be the Northern bobwhite, which has declined in numbers from 31 million in 1967 to 5.5 million in 2007.

Many species of birds are being hurt by the destruction of wide-open North American grasslands and by the cutting down of forests and woodlands.

The new NAS study, whose lead researcher is Greg Butcher (NAS’s director of bird conservation), is considered the most comprehensive compilation of bird populations (and other trends) ever performed in North America.

Researchers with the NAS study state that some bird species are down as far as 500,000 globally. Bird species that are dependent on cold climates, such as the greater scaup and the snow bunting, are down 75% and 84%, respectively, because the warming of the climate forces them to travel further north than normal, where less food is available.

Although such lowered numbers are a concern, no bird species involved in the study are in any danger of extinction. However, their plight has also been discovered in many migratory songbirds and tropical bird species , whose numbers have for a much longer time been in a decline.

A conclusion of another study states that, under the present scenario, significant decline or even extinction is possible for at least 400 of the world’s 8,750 species. A third study shows that 750 to 1,800 species could be listed as endangered species by the year 2100 based solely on adverse reactions to climate changes.

On the other hand, other common birds are doing fine. Some of these birds include the wild turkey, robin, blue jay, and crow. These birds are increasing in numbers because they are found in many types of climates and, also, do well in most areas of the world, whether it be cold or warm,  urban or rural. Many of these bird species are invading the territories of birds whose numbers are declining.

However, overall bird numbers are drastically down and are predicted to continue to decline as long as humans continue to encroach and invade onto lands that were once reserved for birds and animals and as long as human activity partially contributes to changes in climate.

Audubon Board Chairman Carol Browner called the decline in bird populations, "...a warning signal." She went on to say, "We are concerned. Is it an emergency? No, but concerns can quickly become an emergency."

For additional information, go to the Danbury, Connecticut News-Times story “A Wake-up Call”.

{moscomment}