There are many easy ways to help birds at home, from reducing lawn and using native plants to keeping cats indoors and making windows safer. Learn more >>>
Wisconsin DNR conservation biologist, Ryan Brady, recently appeared on Wisconsin Public Radio’s Central Time to summarize the recent study on continental bird declines and discuss how results compare across Wisconsin. Learn more and listen here >>>
In less than a single lifetime, North America has lost more than one in four of its birds, according to a report in the world’s leading scientific journal.
Published in Science by researchers at seven institutions, the findings show that 2.9 billion breeding adult birds have been lost since 1970, including birds in every ecosystem.
The losses include iconic songsters such as Eastern and Western Meadowlarks (down by 139 million) and favorite birds at feeders, such as Dark-eyed Juncos (down by 168 million) and sweet-singing White-throated Sparrows (down by 93 million).
The disappearance of even common species indicates a general shift in our ecosystems’ ability to support basic birdlife, the scientists conclude.
This year’s Winter Finch Forecast suggests good food sources in Canada will keep most of the “winter finches” up north this year, at least in areas east of Wisconsin. Check out the full report for details!
A new study on wild sparrows found that one of the most widely used neonicotinoid pesticides puts bird populations at risk. Learn more here.
A White-crowned Sparrow affixed with a lightweight digitally-coded radio transmitter (nanotag) that broadcasts signals detected by receiver towers in the Motus automated telemetry network. Photo: Margaret Eng
Many people quip that they’d prefer a world without “bugs,” but as the adage goes: Be careful what you wish for. Here’s what “insect armageddon” could mean for birds: https://abcbirds.org/blog/insect-freefall/
The Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) typically occurs in marshes bordering the Atlantic and eastern Gulf Coasts. Glossy Ibis are not found in Wisconsin every year, but in recent years it is not unheard of to have one or more wanderers show up at Horicon Marsh, often in the company of western White-faced Ibis (Plegadis chihi). This year two birds found each other, and produced two young, marking the first time this species has ever been documented as nesting in Wisconsin. Read more here.Read more …
Despite starting the nesting season with 500 blocks left to finish, the five-year Wisconsin Breeding Bird Atlas successfully wrapped up field work in August thanks to the energy, dedication, and grit of more than 2,000 volunteers. Project coordinators will be crunching the numbers and begin work on a book publication but the final product is several years out. In the meantime, check out preliminary stats & species maps in real time at www.ebird.org/atlaswi. Thanks to all who contributed to this major achievement in Wisconsin bird conservation!
Who would think Wisconsin’s most populous county would have some of its most important habitat for birds?🦉
More than 250 species of birds have been documented in Milwaukee County Parks. Its 15,000 acres have immense value for refueling migratory birds during their journey along the Lake Michigan coast earning Milwaukee County Park System the designation as an “Important Bird Area” by the Wisconsin Bird Conservation Initiative. Congratulations, Milwaukee County!
A mix of uplifting and sobering news on bird populations in Canada. Many of these trends mirror those found in Wisconsin and other parts of the U.S. as well.
