February Focuses on Birds

A recent study published in Ecology Letters concluded that in the span of less than three decades, between 1980 and 2009, the bird population in twenty-five countries in Europe declined by more than 20 percent or about 420 million birds.  It would be surprising if anyone is not concerned about this statistic. The study also observed that larger species are actually increasing so that the total biomass of bird populations only fell by 7.6 percent. Although not as flashy as a statistic, 90 percent of the observed decline, or roughly 378 million birds, were from more common species. This is a concern, since it may easier to rally support around unique birds such as the peregrine falcon or bald eagle compared to the house sparrow. Although conservation efforts have increased to protect species that may be endangered, the publication stressed that  protection efforts need to be more encompassing, as declines among common species, such as the house sparrow, can have broad ramifications on the greater ecosystem. For links to various bird organizations and avian related resources visit BirdStars.Org.

One way in which the public can help is to participate in monitoring efforts. An upcoming opportunity is the Great Backyard Bird Count. This program was started in 1998 by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society. Today it boasts numerous international partners and has participants from 135 countries. It takes place this year from February 13 - 16.  The internet has made participation convenient for anyone. The process is quite simple and the time commitment can be as little as 15 minutes. Go to http://gbbc.birdcount.org/ for further information and to register.

February is also National Bird Feeding Month, which was first announced in 1994 by a congressional declaration.

The thick snow cover in February makes it difficult for wildlife, including birds to find food.

There is a National Bird-Feeding Society and you can visit their Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/birdfeedingsociety. They used to have their own web-site, but that has been deactivated. The purpose of the National Bird Feeding Society is to provide outreach and education about responsible bird-feeding. It is important that seed and feeders remain clean. Discard any moldy seed and make sure feeders have proper drainage. If you provide a water source, it is important to add fresh water daily.  Make sure that there is plenty of cover near the feeder so that the birds have a place to quickly go to escape from predators. Keep feeders at least fifteen feet away from your house. Although it is cool to have window feeders for close viewing, windows are an attractive hazard for birds. We learned this the hard way this winter, when a bird flew into our glass slider and died. If you set out feeders in the winter, it is important to keep them filled regularly as birds will come to rely on them as a part of their daily diet. And finally, when spring comes, and with it the availability of plants and insects, remove the feeders to avoid unwelcome encounters with larger mammals, such as bears.

March 9, 2015 GBBC Update: Participants from more than 100 countries submitted a record 147,265 checklists, and reported 5090 species – nearly half the world’s bird species! A summary of the 2015 results can be found on the GBBC website: http://gbbc.birdcount.org/2015-gbbc-summary/