Birds Aren’t Just Declining. They’re Declining Faster, a New Study Finds

[Scott E. Severs]

Common factors: intensive agriculture, pesticides, loss of insects, climate change, unnatural predation.

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/26/climate/bird-declines.html?unlocked_article_code=1.PVA.GAQO.VEhO0tjmtRdU&smid=nytcore-ios-share

 

Scott E Severs Longmont ScottE...@gmail.com (Note the "E" in the address above) Sent from Gmail Mobile

[Linda]

Scott, thanks so much for sharing this article (and research links). It confirms what we have all been saying with increasing dread.

I think daily of Carson's Silent Spring as my yard becomes more and more bereft of its former soundscape and busy creatures of all kinds. I imagine that city folk have no clue about all this, unless they are critter-watchers. We and those intrepid science scholars have become the iconic canaries, shrieking into the wind about what is happening.

Heaven help us all.

It sure feels alarmingly like spring, far too early this year. Our little orchard crop is certainly doomed!

Go outside, everyone, and be grateful for all you see at present. Explain and apologize to your grandkids, if you have any!

Linda

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[John Tumasonis]

Thanks Scott.    

           The "canary in the coal mine".    I've watched the decline of birds and bird species throughout the Colorado region for 48 years.  My observations are not strictly scientific I admit, but yearly and monthly trips to favored areas have led me to see and believe that many species are in decline.   Pawnee Grasslands, Rocky Mt. National Park, Boulder Mt. Park, Indian Peaks Wilderness, Boulder County Open Space, among many other places all are showing some species rapidly decreasing, including the following:

Flycatchers - all

Vireos - all

Black Headed Grosbeaks

Lazuli Buntings

Tanagers

Green Tailed Towhees

Bluebirds

Western Meadowlarks

Yellow Breasted Chats

Cassin's Finches

Woodpecker species - especially Williamson's Sapsuckers and Red Napped Sapsuckers

and many other species. 

In my observations, habitat is being lost at a rapid rate, both north and south along end-point migratory routes.   Some species though, are adapting to these changes by nesting in suburban-urban areas.   Not because they want to, but because they are forced to.   Examples include:

Say's Phoebes

Great Horned Owls

Coopers Hawks

Red Tailed Hawks

Swainson's Hawks

etc, etc. 

       48 years ago, you would almost NOT see any of these species' nesting near human habitats.  

And note that this isn't just birds - its many species of wildlife and plant life.  

Just my two cents. 

John T (Tumasonis)