North America has lost 2.9 billion birds since 1970: Study
- 5 years ago
ITHACA, NEW YORK — New research has concluded that the bird population in North America has declined by 29 percent since 1970.
The study published in the journal Science stated that almost 90 percent of the loss included common birds such as sparrows, blackbirds and swallows. Significant amounts of shorebirds, grasslands birds and forest bird populations have also declined.
Researchers analyzed almost 50 years of bird-monitoring data collected from 143 radar stations across North America.
Authors of the study noted that habitat loss may be the leading factor in bird decline, according to a news release from Cornell University.
The study mentioned that birds are beneficial to the ecosystem as they disperse seeds and help with pest control.
A website released with the study called 3billionbirds.org included a list of suggestions to help birds survive. This includes installing window screens on the outside of the window to prevent birds from crashing into windows, avoiding the use of pesticides and keeping your cat indoors.
In the news release, the authors of the study mentioned that there is hope as birds such as hawks, eagles and other birds of prey have actually tripled their populations since 1970.
Lead author of the study Kenneth Rosenberg from the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology said that none of these declines are hopeless, but that may not be true 10 years from now.
The study published in the journal Science stated that almost 90 percent of the loss included common birds such as sparrows, blackbirds and swallows. Significant amounts of shorebirds, grasslands birds and forest bird populations have also declined.
Researchers analyzed almost 50 years of bird-monitoring data collected from 143 radar stations across North America.
Authors of the study noted that habitat loss may be the leading factor in bird decline, according to a news release from Cornell University.
The study mentioned that birds are beneficial to the ecosystem as they disperse seeds and help with pest control.
A website released with the study called 3billionbirds.org included a list of suggestions to help birds survive. This includes installing window screens on the outside of the window to prevent birds from crashing into windows, avoiding the use of pesticides and keeping your cat indoors.
In the news release, the authors of the study mentioned that there is hope as birds such as hawks, eagles and other birds of prey have actually tripled their populations since 1970.
Lead author of the study Kenneth Rosenberg from the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology said that none of these declines are hopeless, but that may not be true 10 years from now.