Globally Green Living

Some birds are fussier than others are but I can’t really blame them for preferring uncontaminated water and land without chemicals. With lakes and streams becoming more polluted many more common birds are declining.

What can we do?

• We can support conservation programs that pay farmers to keep marginal farmlands idle, which give birds more inhabitable land.

• Support wetland conservation efforts. We can all encourage our governments to enforce wetland protection and water quality regulations.

• Support legislation that caps greenhouse gas emissions and encourages alternative energy sources. We can also work to conserve energy individually to combat global warming which indirectly helps birds maintain their homes.

• Push to protect and preserve forests. The Canadian Boreal forest has particularly taken a beating because of logging, mining and drilling.

• Patrol beaches: Join beach watches and help look for oiled birds. Lobby for friendly beaches and clean water.

Here’s a listing of the top ten birds in decline obtained from the National Audubon Society:

1. Northern Bobwhite: A chubby little bird found in grasslands in most of the Eastern U.S. Declined 82%
2. Evening Grosbeak: A round black white and yellow bird found in the mountains of the U.S. and Canada. Declined 78%
3. Northern Pintail: A slim duck found in grasslands and fields near shallow water. Declined 77%
4. Greater Scaup: A small black, white and grey duck found in rivers in Alaska and Eastern Canada. My dad carved one of these out of wood and it’s such a beautiful bird. Declined 75%
5. Boreal Chickadee: Grey, brown and black chubby bird found in spruce and fir forests of the Northern U.S., Alaska and Canada. Declined 73%
6. Eastern Meadowlark: Brown backed and yellow-breasted bird found in fields from Southern Canada to Eastern U.S. Declined 72%
7. Common Tern: A small slender grey and white bird found in northern oceans, lakes and rivers. It spends the winter in the south. Declined 71%
8. Loggerhead Shrike: A small grey white and black bird. Found in short grass with scattered trees and shrubs in Mexico and Southern U.S. Declined 71%
9. Field Sparrow: A small brown bird with a bright pink bill. Found east of the Rocky Mountains in the U.S. and southern Canada. Declined 68%
10. Grasshopper Sparrow: A small brown bird that hides in grasslands. They can be found in Eastern U.S. and Southern Canada. Declined 65%

While the birds haven’t been classified as becoming extinct, they’re declining at an alarming rate. If we don’t do something to help preserve them, they will become extinct. For more information see The National Audubon Society. Their mission is to focus on restoring natural ecosystems with a focus on birds and their habitats.