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Birds Declining Faster Than Ever
27 Feb
Summary
- Bird populations show accelerating losses since 1987.
- Intensive agriculture is a strong predictor of decline.
- Climate change may also be a contributing factor.
New research indicates that bird populations in the United States are not only declining but are doing so at an accelerated rate. Data collected from 1987 to 2021 suggests that areas with intensive agriculture experienced the sharpest population drops.
While the study published in Science shows a correlation with agriculture and warming temperatures, it does not confirm causation. The accelerating losses are particularly pronounced, with bird counts decreasing by approximately a quarter of a bird per year more than the previous year on average.
Scientists emphasize the need for more research to pinpoint the exact drivers of these declines. However, the findings add to a growing body of evidence highlighting the severe impact of human activities on biodiversity, with forest-dwelling birds showing stable or increasing populations as a potential bright spot.
