Common Bird Species Are Declining And Disappearing
This study by the National Audubon Society found that since 1967, the average population of many common bird species has fallen by 68%, with some individual species declining as much as 80 percent. The populations of 20 species on the group’s national Common Birds in Decline list have diminished by at least 54% over the last forty years.
National Audubon Society found that the average population of many common bird species has fallen by 68% since 1967. The reason for the decline is direct loss of habitat, more specifically from loss of grasslands, healthy forests, wetlands, and other habitat elements resulting from urban sprawl, energy development, and industrialized agriculture.
Among the most bird populations most significantly in decline are:
- Northern Bobwhite – down 82%
- Evening Grosbeaks – down 78%
- Northern Pintail – down 78%
- Greater Scaup – down 75%
- Eastern Meadowlarks – down 71%
- Common Terns – down 70%
- Snow Buntings – down 64%
- Rufus Hummingbird – down 58%
- Little Blue Herons – down 54%