Nature Conservation and Birdwatchers
"Hey, listen up birdwatchers. I'm Alfie Bird. If you haven't heard already, North American bird populations have dropped 29% over the past 50 years.
"Sure, to you that might just be the loss of some birds, but to me it's the loss of billions of relatives: aunts, uncles, first cousins twice removed, second cousins thrice removed, and so on.
"You might ask, 'What happened to all those birds?' It's a good question. Below are the answers and what you (hint! hint! hint!) can do about it."
"Of course, you can only do so much, so choose the actions that will help the most birds."
Tops Threats to Birds (U.S. only. Ordered by Median Estimate to Bird Mortality Annually. As of 2017.) |
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Causes of Bird Mortality1 |
Median Current Annual Estimate |
How You Can Help2 |
Habitat Loss |
Potentially largest individual threat to birds |
1. Donate for habitat conservation (Migratory Bird Conservation Fund, etc.)2. Influence conservation legislation (letter-writing campaigns, fully fund Land and Water Conservation Fund every year [esp. considering all the new oil extraction], Recovering America's Wildlife Act, Migratory Bird Treaty Act/Convention, etc.--and be sure you know who you're voting for.)3. Participate in habitat restoration and enhancement4. Recognize heroes who help habitat5. Symbolic fences using children's signs to protect sensitive habitats |
Outdoor Cats |
2.4 billion |
1. Keep cats indoors and speak out against outdoor cats2. Festival registrations that award gold stars to attendees who keep their cats indoors3. Speak out against feral cat colonies |
Collisions - Building Glass |
600 million |
1. Protective treatment of window for private and public buildings2. Support conservation legislation (Bird-Safe Windows Act, etc.) |
Collisions - Vehicles |
200 million |
1. Ease off the gas pedal2. Honor the slowest driving tour guides |
Poison and Toxics |
70 million |
1. Support conservation legislation and ask political candidates to work on neonicotinoids, 2,4-D, and glyphosate, as well as the creation of a uniform plastics recycling system, and then vote for politicians who act.2. Personal use choices |
HuntingLead Poisoning |
70 million21 million |
1. Support legislation banning lead ammunition(News: Interior Secretary lifts lead ban in 2017)2. . Use non-lead ammunition |
Industry Deaths - Collisions (Electrical Lines, Communication Towers, Wind Turbines); Electrocutions; Mining Claim markers; Gas Platforms; Oil and Wastewater Pits; etc. |
41 million |
1. Support conservation legislation(News: Republican Liz Cheney introduces Bird-Killer Amendment in 2017) |