Birds Disappearing in North America
Since 1970, the amount of birds in both the United States and Canada have dropped by 29%. There are 2.9 billion less birds than there there were 50 years ago and more than 500 species are vulnerable to extinction. Common species like robins and sparrows, which are traditionally abundant, have been disappearing. This means that species that weren't typically on the endangered species list have been disappearing. In fact, previously endangered species, and strangely, even some random species, have been thriving. Reasons for these disappearances are thought to be linked to habitat loss, from agriculture and development, which reduces the amount of birds in that area, and the over-abundance of pesticides, which is making it harder for the birds to gain the weight they need when they are migrating. In order to gather the information for the loss of these species, researchers have turned to the observations and surveys of bird watchers.
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The loss of these common bird species would be devastating for their ecosystems since they are quite vital. They control pests, pollinate flowers, spread seeds, and regenerate forests. The article even states that a species of bird, the starling, which was once considered a fast breeding pest when it was first introduced, has declined by 49%. Although they may not get a get as much attention as their more well known for traditionally being endangered counterparts, the loss of these common species has a much greater impact.
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The loss of these common bird species would be devastating for their ecosystems since they are quite vital. They control pests, pollinate flowers, spread seeds, and regenerate forests. The article even states that a species of bird, the starling, which was once considered a fast breeding pest when it was first introduced, has declined by 49%. Although they may not get a get as much attention as their more well known for traditionally being endangered counterparts, the loss of these common species has a much greater impact.
This decrease in population is scary. Not only are birds being affected by habitat loss but so are many other types of animals such as mammals. Either more sanctuaries for earth's animals need to made or we will end up completely wiping out animals completely due to our own growth.
ReplyDeleteThis is astoundingly interesting because birds that we see daily are not species we typically think of when we hear endangered. The impact that birds have on the ecosystem is greater than most of us realize. It is evident that less pesticides should be used in ways that broadly effect wildlife and that there need to be more focus on replacing habitats of birds and other animals we may be taking for granted.
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