Help crashing bird populations with local reporting, which can find answers and improve awareness; here are tips

The Kirtland’s warbler is one of the rarest songbirds in North America.
(Photo by Ian Davies, Cornell University Lab, Macaulay Library)

Bird populations are struggling worldwide. In North America, a "key 2022 report found that more than half of U.S. and Canadian bird species have suffered dramatic drops in population, reports Joseph A. Davis for The Society of Environmental Journalists. "Local and regional developments make this a story for environmental journalists to explore."

Birds matter. "They pollinate plants (many of which people enjoy and/or depend on). They eat things we often wish not to have around, such as insects or carrion. Also, they may feed us," Davis writes. "They may spread disease (and often suffer from disease). And they are (no apologies for the pun) the 'canary in the coal mine' when it comes to habitat loss or toxic substances in the environment."

Along with their importance in nature, birds provide people "with joy and wonder almost everywhere we encounter them in our world. They are beautiful. They are capable of incredible feats. And their songs and calls brighten and beautify our lives," Davis adds. "Birds are awesome."

Birds are declining for many reasons, but the meta-reason is "human action," Davis writes. "As European settlers to North America cut forests, drained wetlands, plowed grasslands, built reservoirs, dug up minerals and paved much of what remained, birds have had a tougher time finding homes and food — and raising their young. . . . It's not just that. A lot of birds eat insects, and insect populations are also declining dramatically. So that may be part of the explanation. Behind that decline may be the massive agricultural use of pesticides."

Davis offers these story ideas:

• Find local birding clubs (see link below), attend meetings, talk to leaders, go on walks and ask about local species, local declines and local threats to birds.
• Are there unique habitats in your area? Species specially adapted to those habitats? Dramatic changes to those habitats?
• What birds migrate through your area? Are their food sources and resting places under threat?
• What diseases afflict what birds in your area? Those could vary from bird flu to West Nile virus. Do human activities promote the spread of disease?
• What is the role of backyard bird feeders in your ecosystem? Some call them "cat feeders." Do they help or hurt? Spread disease?
• What is the role of "outdoor" or feral cats in the decline?
• What is the role of big buildings and glass windows in the decline?
• What is going on with tree cover and wetlands in your area? Is climate change a factor?

He also offers these reporting resources:
Cornell Lab of Ornithology: This institution, part of Cornell University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, has all kinds of bird-related resources.
National Audubon Society: A premier national nonprofit for conservation and policy and just birding. It has a network of local and regional affiliates.
The Great Backyard Bird Count: Join the world in connecting to birds – February 16–19, 2024.
Christmas Bird Count: A long-standing tradition in many places that can give some unscientific sense of population trends. Organized by National Audubon. Ask your local chapter about its results.
Local/regional birding and conservation groups: Start here. There are probably others not on the list.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: The federal agency most active in bird conservation. Find a refuge near you and talk to the staff. You can also reach out to managers of your state, local and private wildlife refuges.
National Wildlife Health Center: This unit of the U.S. Geological Survey is an authoritative source on bird disease.
North American Bird Conservation Initiative: The consortium of researchers, government agencies and cnservation groups that produced the 2022 report mentioned above.
Ducks Unlimited: Yes, its members do hunt ducks — but they work very hard for conservation. Check in with your local chapter and talk to them about migratory birds.
State conservation agencies: Terminology varies, but a good directory can be found here.
People who maintain local backyard bird feeders: One way to find them is to go to a hardware store where feeders and seeds are sold. Talk to customers.