Over the years the populations of birds in North America have been declining. This article is a summary of the main causes contributing to this event.

You step out the door, a cool breeze brushes your face as you walk from your porch. Warm rays from the sun touch the back of your neck. It is a perfect summer day. The sun is out, the wind is blowing, the birds are chirp- wait...no, they're not.

This could be the case for several places in North America in years to come, as many populations of bird species are on the decline.

"Right now we see many previously common...birds declining" said Erica Nol a professor in the Biology department at Trent University

To place the blame for this decline on a single factor would be wrong. There are a combination of causes which need to be addressed in order to resolve this problem.

The prominent cause of declining bird population is habitat loss, which is directly caused through deforestation.

"Forest loss results is direct habitat loss," said Nol.

As we continue to cut down and erode our earth's forests more birds will see their habitats disappear. This creates another group of problems for birds.

Many species of forest songbirds, for example the Wood Thrush, are area sensitive: which means they will avoid breeding in areas of forest which don't suit their needs, such as small fragmented areas.

Therefore as our forests continue to shrink, more birds will be unable to find suitable areas for breeding. This leads to a decrease in breeding, which is a direct decline in populations

Also, as forests become fragmented nesting birds will become more open to predators, such as squirrels or blue jays which feed on eggs. The destruction of these eggs decreases bird breeding success and ultimately causes a decline.

According to Nol, "birds can tolerate a certain level of nest failure, it is when the predators swamp the bird populations that there can be a negative impact."

Another cause of the decline in populations is changing temperatures caused by global warming.

Birds rely on temperatures to maintain their migration patterns. As climate temperatures rise, birds will be thrown from their migration cycle.

"We already see effects in terms of advancement of both arrival and nesting in Europe and in Ontario," said Nol.

The early migration of birds may not seem too big a problem, but it is. When birds reach their destinations they rely on certain foods to live through the season. Early arrival could cause birds to have to wait for food as the seeds and fruits they depend on have yet to grow. This can cause birds to starve waiting for food and obviously can lead to decline.

The birds are not the only ones to be affected by the decline in populations. But, the people who live in these areas of decline can be effected.

"If the local economy is weak, but the native bird population is interesting, ecotourism can be as important income source," said Nol. An example of this would be Parrots and other colourful birds which attract tourists.

If these types of birds continue to disappear these economically weak areas will suffer the most.

Becoming aware of this problem gives everyone the first ounce of responsibility to do something about it.

"It is our responsibility to be healthy stewards of our planet," states Nol.

Small things such as leaving shrubs to grow around your home can create a prime place for birds to breed. Also, by using a compost container instead of dumping lawn wastes in nearby forests can help to preserve habitats and get us on the way to ending this decline.

References:

The National Wildlife Federation Website: Article Silent Spring: A Sequel. By: Les Line