The fight to protect America's avian species
Discover the alarming decline of America's breeding bird population over the past 50 years Learn about effective techniques to rescue these precious species in this informative article by Anders and Beverly Gyllenhaal
Authors Anders and Beverly Gyllenhaal, known for their book "A Wing and a Prayer: The Race to Save our Vanishing Birds," share stories, photos, videos, and insights on birds on their website, FlyingLessons.US: What Were Learning from the Birds. The views expressed in this commentary are their own. (source: CNN Opinion)
In the Florida Prairie near Disney World, researchers are working to repopulate the most endangered bird on the continent, a small and timid sparrow.
A coalition of wildlife scientists, nonprofits, and universities has joined forces to revive the population of the Florida grasshopper sparrow, which had dwindled to just 22 remaining pairs. Our new book, "A Wing and a Prayer: The Race to Save our Vanishing Birds," chronicles their efforts. Through intensive research, they successfully bred chicks in captivity and carefully observed their behavior in the wild to ensure their adaptation. Releasing small groups of sparrows onto the prairie to find mates and reproduce has led to a gradual increase in their numbers once again.
The rescue is an inspiring yet concerning story. For years, missions similar to this one have occurred on the brink of extinction, despite the fact that wildlife conservation has been unsuccessful in halting the widespread decline of North America's bird population.
It has been four years since researchers found that almost a third of the breeding bird population has disappeared since the 1970s, and the situation has become even more urgent. Approximately half of our bird species are currently declining in some way.
The causes are a deadly combination of both old and new forces, including habitat loss, changing climates, and hazards like high-rise glass buildings, city lights, outdoor cats, wind turbines, and pesticides. These threats require a serious overhaul of our conservation strategies.
Fortunately, there are several new developments that can have a positive impact. Breakthroughs in research, advanced tracking tools, innovative conservation concepts, and genomic tools all provide solutions, provided that we are willing to implement them systematically and aggressively.
We spent a year traveling 25,000 miles and conducting interviews with over 300 individuals for our book. We visited inspiring and uplifting conservation efforts throughout the hemisphere that could serve as exemplary models for recovery.
Promising technologies that analyze and protect species in innovative ways are emerging, such as using sound to track birds and a large-scale project in Hawaii to mitigate climate change impacts before species are at risk of extinction. These methods, while expensive, are necessary as the cost of recovery missions for individual species can range from $1 million to 10 or even 20 times that amount annually. Despite the high cost, we consider these investments to be valuable when compared to the potential loss of a third of America's bird species in the next 50 years.
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Strix occidentalis occidentalis
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithologys Macaulay Library
Photo Illustration/Alberto Mier/CNN/Anders Gyllenhaal
The US Forest Service in the Sierra Nevada mountain range is utilizing a combination of audio recorders and artificial intelligence to monitor the declining populations of the California Spotted Owl. This method has proven to be the most effective way to locate the widely dispersed and difficult-to-reach owls. Researchers attach the recorders to trees in various locations throughout the forest to capture the sounds of the owls, and then use algorithms to generate precise maps of their whereabouts. These findings are then used to develop strategies to protect the owls from predators, enhance their habitat through improved forest management, and track the owls as their populations stabilize.
Red-cockaded Woodpecker
Leuconotopicus borealis
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithologys Macaulay Library
In the Southeastern United States, the red-cockaded woodpecker, once considered to be on the verge of extinction, is now experiencing a resurgence, thanks in part to the Department of Defense. Military bases have become havens for around 500 endangered species, including the red-cockaded woodpecker. Despite the challenges that these birds pose to training and base operations, commanders are committed to conservation efforts in order to comply with the Endangered Species Act and prevent extinctions. This particular woodpecker has been especially successful in its recovery due to the research and conservation efforts implemented by the military.
The red-cockaded woodpecker, known for being extremely selective, can only inhabit cavities that take up to ten years to carve into aging long-leaf pine trees. To address this issue, the military has developed quick and efficient man-made wooden replicas that can be easily installed in the trees, rapidly expanding the habitat for these birds and helping to increase their populations.
"The readiness of our armed forces is crucial for the country's well-being," stated Ryan Orndorff, the director of natural resources for the Department of Defense. "It is also imperative for the nation that these endangered species continue to thrive."
Hawaiian honeycreepers
Akikiki
Oreomystis bairdi
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithologys Macaulay Library
Photo Illustration/Alberto Mier/CNN/Bow Tyler
Akekee
Loxops caeruleirostris
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithologys Macaulay Library
Alberto Mier, a CNN contributor, has captured the unfolding of an extraordinary rescue mission in Hawaii. The state, known as the world's capital of extinction, has lost over two-thirds of its 140 native bird species. This includes crows, owls, and hawks. Now, the remaining 15 endangered species of finches, known as honeycreepers, are facing threat from avian malaria spread by mosquitoes. These finches have vibrant plumage and unique curved beaks.
Over the years, these birds have been able to avoid the malaria-carrying mosquitos because the bugs were only found in the lowlands where temperatures were hot enough for breeding. However, with the warming climate, the deadly mosquitoes are now able to reach higher elevations - the home of the last forest birds with melodious names such as the Akikiki and the Akekee.
To address this issue, a large-scale project is underway to release lab-bred mosquitos infused with bacteria that act as a form of birth control when they mate with wild mosquitos. The plan involves breeding millions of these insects on the mainland, lowering their temperatures for the journey to Hawaii, and gradually releasing them into the rainforests, starting with Maui and then Kauai this year and next.
Photo Illustration/Alberto Mier/CNN/Bow Tyler/Jack Jeffrey
The examples presented in our book demonstrate that modern remedies have the potential to preserve almost any bird species. However, it will require increased support from state and federal agencies, as well as Congress, including adequate funding to address the scope of the losses.
Additionally, the outdated policies of state and federal wildlife agencies are hindering their ability to protect vulnerable species. There is a disproportionate focus on the final stages of a bird's life, such as in the case of the grasshopper sparrow, when costs are highest, challenges are most significant, and there is minimal margin for error.
The country's federal bird research capabilities, once impressive, have been gradually neglected, leaving much of the scientific work in the hands of struggling nonprofits. As the country's Endangered Species system, which has been the global gold standard for fifty years, faces a growing number of species in need with insufficient funding, it can take years, or even decades, for candidate species to undergo assessment. Pete Marra, dean of Georgetown University's Earth Commons Institute, and leader of a new initiative advocating for research to preserve species before they face extinction, emphasizes the need for a complete reevaluation of conservation strategies, stating "What we're doing is not working."
Throughout history, the US has faced crisis after crisis when it comes to bird populations. However, each time, Americans have managed to find a way to overcome these threats, giving us hope that we will rise to the occasion once again.
For example, as early as the 1900s, the US passed laws protecting birds such as great blue herons, great egrets, and roseate spoonbills, which were being slaughtered for their feathers. During the 1930s, hunters launched a conservation effort to prevent ducks and geese from disappearing during droughts, which has grown into the nation's most successful conservation effort. Additionally, Congress took action to protect bald eagles and ospreys by banning DDT, passing the Endangered Species Act, and launching the Environmental Protection Agency.
It is time to act and combine past conservation successes with new technologies to help birds in need. The solution is within reach, as a proposal for the most significant increase in wildlife funding in a generation is pending before Congress in the Recovering Americas Wildlife Act. The legislation, which passed the US House last summer, would provide annual resources of $1.3 billion but is currently stalled in the Senate.
Birds have been taken for granted for generations, despite their essential roles in nature. They spread seeds, pollinate plants, and help maintain the balance of ecosystems. They also serve as living indicators of environmental health. Now is the time to prioritize their well-being.
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Connect with us on Twitter and Facebook! "I believe we have ten years to make this happen," stated Elizabeth Gray, CEO of the National Audubon Society. She is one of numerous industry leaders we spoke with who emphasized the critical nature of the next decade for the bird populations of North America.
To ensure that future generations can continue to experience the beauty of coexisting with sparrows, woodpeckers, owls, and honeycreepers, we must heed the message that these birds are communicating and seize this opportunity before it's too late.
