Significant Declines Seen in Bird Populations
Almost 30% of bird populations in North America are facing a significant decline, the National Audubon Society said in its first “The State of the Birds” report Tuesday. The group studied data from 1966 to 2003 for 654 bird species.
Most dire was the finding that 70% of the species in grasslands -- such as the Eastern meadowlark, bobolink, short-eared owl and greater prairie chicken -- were doing poorly. For those in shrub lands -- including the Northern bobwhite, painted bunting and Florida scrub jay -- 36% of species were not doing well.
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