LOCATION/TYPE

NEWS HOME

[ exact phrase in "" • results by date ]

[ Google-powered • results by relevance ]


Archive
RSS

Add NWW headlines to your site (click here)

Get weekly updates

WHAT TO DO
when your community is targeted

RSS

RSS feeds and more

Keep Wind Watch online and independent!

Donate via Paypal

Donate via Stripe

Selected Documents

All Documents

Research Links

Alerts

Press Releases

FAQs

Campaign Material

Photos & Graphics

Videos

Allied Groups

Wind Watch is a registered educational charity, founded in 2005.

News Watch Home

Ten billion migratory birds arrive in North America but threats increasing 

Millions of Americans enjoy the return of migratory songbirds and shorebirds each spring – an annual event celebrated by International Migratory Bird Day which this year falls on Saturday May 12. However, the return of fewer birds of many vulnerable species is prompting concern among conservation groups.

“This weekend sees the peak of spring songbird migration across much of North America. The marvel of millions of migratory birds returning each year is something to pass on to future generations – by taking action now we can ensure this great natural phenomena can be celebrated by our children and their children,” said Dr. George Fenwick, President of ABC.

More than one third of the 650 bird species that breed in the U.S. now have declining populations, are restricted to small ranges, or face serious threats. Conservationists are particularly concerned about species such as the Cerulean Warbler, a beautiful blue and white songbird that has lost as much as 70% of its population in the past 40 years and which has become a flagship species for songbird declines. Other species of particular concern are the eastern Red Knot, a shorebird which has declined by 90% since the early 1990s, and the Long-billed Curlew, which has lost over one-third of its breeding habitat to development.

Each year, an estimated 2.5 billion birds are also killed inadvertently in the U.S. due to human activities. Such bird mortality includes collisions with lighted buildings and communication towers, pesticide poisoning, and free-roaming cat predation. Two million acres of bird habitat are also lost to development annually. New concerns over the potential impacts of climate change, especially among coastal, alpine, and Arctic bird species; as well as the spread of corn for biofuels which may replace vital bird habitats; and poorly placed wind farms that can kill thousands of birds are also causing serious concern. The combination of mass mortality and serious habitat loss poses a grave risk to many bird species across all regions and habitats.

“We’ve all heard of the canary in the coalmine – it is clearly time to heed a warning here” said Mike Parr, Vice President of American Bird Conservancy (ABC).

To counter these threats ABC and its allies in the Bird Conservation Alliance are calling for increased federal funding for bird conservation programs – such as the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act – and engaging in a range of conservation actions aimed at reversing songbird declines. Please see a fact sheet on protecting the Cerulean Warbler and other migratory birds linked to below.

International Migratory Bird Day itself is highlighting the threat posed to birds by climate change. Other initiatives aimed at conserving birds include the North American Bird Conservation Initiative, Partners in Flight, and the Bird Conservation Alliance. These programs and partnerships are building capacity among both public and private organizations to protect birds across the entire U.S. landscape. ABC also leads programs to reduce pesticide poisoning, to minimize cat predation, to halt the impacts of communications towers on birds, to protect key sites for birds, and to safeguard winter habitat in Central and South America for North American migratory species and rare endemic birds.

By Steve Holmer

infozine.com

12 May 2007

This article is the work of the source indicated. Any opinions expressed in it are not necessarily those of National Wind Watch.

The copyright of this article resides with the author or publisher indicated. As part of its noncommercial educational effort to present the environmental, social, scientific, and economic issues of large-scale wind power development to a global audience seeking such information, National Wind Watch endeavors to observe “fair use” as provided for in section 107 of U.S. Copyright Law and similar “fair dealing” provisions of the copyright laws of other nations. Send requests to excerpt, general inquiries, and comments via e-mail.

Wind Watch relies entirely
on User Funding
   Donate via Paypal
(via Paypal)
Donate via Stripe
(via Stripe)

Share:

e-mail X FB LI TG TG Share


News Watch Home

Get the Facts
CONTACT DONATE PRIVACY ABOUT SEARCH
© National Wind Watch, Inc.
Use of copyrighted material adheres to Fair Use.
"Wind Watch" is a registered trademark.

 Follow:

Wind Watch on X Wind Watch on Facebook

Wind Watch on Linked In Wind Watch on Mastodon