Birds Are Vanishing From North America

[Cattledog]

By Carl Zimmer
Sept. 19, 2019



The skies are emptying out.

The number of birds in the United States and Canada has fallen by 29 percent since 1970, scientists reported on Thursday. There are 2.9 billion fewer birds taking wing now than there were 50 years ago.

The analysis, published in the journal Science, is the most exhaustive and ambitious attempt yet to learn what is happening to avian populations. The results have shocked researchers and conservation organizations.

In a statement on Thursday, David Yarnold, president and chief executive of the National Audubon Society, called the findings “a full-blown crisis.”

Experts have long known that some bird species have become vulnerable to extinction. But the new study, based on a broad survey of more than 500 species, reveals steep losses even among such traditionally abundant birds as robins and sparrows.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/19/science/bird-populations-america-canada.html?fbclid=IwAR1FDTrcxRnSy4ZeqmLCb7JoiDhOzJkH6s9V_5i1xpJgCO3cpcMy0qlignc

[5X]

1. I have seen it first hand.

Been a birder for 30 years, lived in same place for 25. The songbirds are far fewer than they used to be.

[mountain grammy]

2. Bye bye birdies

Bye bye humanity.

[ZZenith]

3. In a French forest several years ago I heard the sound of so many songbirds!

Reminded me of my youth here and how scarce their sound has become. We’re gonna miss all these creatures once we’re the only ones left.

[defacto7]

5. I think those sounds will be missed ultimately

because we won't be here to hear them.

[ZZenith]

6. Exactly.

[Cattledog]

4. FYI Americans use 1 billion pounds of poison to kill insects each year.

No insects, no birds.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

7. Washington Post article onthe same topic

https://www.washingtonpost.com/science/2019/09/19/north-america-has-lost-billion-birds-years/?wpisrc=al_news__alert-hse--alert-national&wpmk=1

Several reasons are given in this article.

Earlier research has documented several threats that could be responsible for the large-scale bird decline. Agriculture and habitat loss are thought to be the primary drivers, with other factors such as light pollution (which disorients birds), buildings (which they crash into) and roaming cats (which kill them) amounting to “death by a thousand cuts,” Rosenberg said.

Per the last one there's a whole colony of feral cats near my house. If people are going to keep pets they should neuter them.

It's the responsible thing to do.