Common birds on the decline

The results of a study by the Audubon Society reveal that the population of common birds like the Northern Bobwhite, the Eastern meadowlark, the loggerhead shrike and the field sparrow is on the decline. Twenty species of birds in the U.S have been reduced to half their populations in the past forty years. Horizontal spreading of suburbs, increase in farming and climatic changes have been held responsible for the reduction.

The Bobwhite and the Eastern meadowlark had seemed to be common in the east. However, last Christmas only 3 northern bobwhites and 18 Eastern meadowlarks were found by volunteer bird counters in Massachusetts. According to the study conducted by the National Audubon Society, after comparing databases for 550 bird species from two different surveys: its own bird count at Christmas and the U.S Geological Survey’s breeding-bird survey in June, the population of twenty species has declined by half since 1967. While the Grosbeak population has seen a fall of 78 percent, Arkansas has seen a drop in its loggerhead shrike, a small black, gray and white bird with hooked bill, by an astounding 92 percent.

Dan Scheiman, bird conservation coordinator with Audubon Arkansas has said, “We’ve been given a wake-up call. These (population) declines are a warning that we need to do something about it, and fortunately it’s not too late to do something about it.” Conservationists are concerned that with increasing spread of urban cities along with large-scale farming, the birds of America have been deprived of their habitats. Other factors that have led to the decline include loss of wetlands, introduction of invasive species like fire ants as well as global warming.

According to Billy dukes, small game project coordinator for the Department of Natural Resources, “The question isn’t why. We moved past that long ago. It’s plain and simple — loss of habitat.”

The survey also revealed that while certain species are on the decline, some have also seen an increase in their population in the past few years. The turkey seems to have elbowed its way to take over the habitat of the bobwhite and the loggerhead shrike in Arkansas. The increase in turkey growth has been 14 percent. Similarly, the double-crested cormorant and the Canadian goose have also seen a swell in their population.

Greg Butcher, Audubon’s bird conservation director says, “Right now the Eurasian collared-dove is conquering America. Soon you'll be seeing Eurasian collared-doves in any city in the world.” The dovelike bird that first entered Florida in the 1980`s can today be found in more than 30 states.

The following are the biggest declines and the biggest increases according to the Audubon survey:

BIGGEST DECLINES

1. Northern bobwhite
2. Evening grosbeak
3. Northern pintail
4. Greater scaup
5. Boreal chickadee

BIGGEST INCREASES

1. Wild turkey
2. Greater white-fronted goose
3. Glossy ibis
4. Double-crested cormorant
5. Canada goose