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By Linda Byrd-Masters

I am in awe of bird people. Those folks that love birds and turn them into such a passion that they can identify one just by the smallest, distant chirp. I myself am more the plant, geology, and larger animal enthusiast, but nevertheless, I enjoy our flying friends and am trying to become better at the art of birding.

In December, I had the pleasure of joining some of my fellow Virginia Master Naturalists and birders from other volunteer groups in assisting with the bird count at the Great Dismal Swamp NWR. I’ll admit however, I know I was asked to participate mostly for my vehicle and four-wheel driving skills to handle the muddy trails, certainly not for my fledgling avian knowledge. I see a bird and think, “Oh, there’s a pretty sparrow” while they confidently speak while aiming their mega-high-powered binoculars that it’s the white-throated sparrow, you know, Zonotrichia albicollis. Yes, I know my place.

Recently, I read “A Wing and a Prayer: The Race to Save Our Vanishing Birds” by Anders and Beverly Gyllenhaal (Simon & Schuster, 2023). The authors explain the need to save bird species from extinction, and highlight innovative ways being tried. Alarmingly, the decline of bird populations in North America shows nearly three billion birds have disappeared over the past 50 years.

Bird population decline threatens ecosystem stability, economic health, and human well-being. Their loss signals deeper environmental problems that can affect life globally. Birds naturally control insect and rodent populations; fewer birds can lead to increases in agricultural pests, affecting crop yields. They pollinate plants and disperse seeds, aiding forest regeneration and biodiversity. Integral to food webs, their decline can impact predators and prey, causing cascading effects throughout ecosystems. Birdwatching contributes billions to the economy; decreased bird diversity can reduce tourism in nature-rich areas. Less insectivorous birds can lead to more mosquitoes and ticks, raising the risk to humans to vector-borne diseases like lyme disease and West Nile virus.

Birds act as early indicators of environmental health. Their decline may delay warnings about pollution and habitat degradation. We must acknowledge that their accelerated extinction poses the danger of ecosystem resilience to climate change and human pressures.

There are numerous ways anyone can help. Create bird-friendly habitats by cultivating native plant gardens to provide natural food sources and shelter for local bird species, and set up appropriate nest boxes to support cavity-nesting birds like bluebirds. Apply decals or other deterrents to windows to reduce bird strikes. Domestic cats are significant predators of birds; keeping them indoors or placing a small bell on their collar can help protect local birds. Engage with groups like the Virginia Society of Ornithology or Audubon Societies which offer conservation projects and educational resources. Stay informed about local and national policies affecting bird habitats and advocate for protective measures. Donate or volunteer by contributing time and resources to organizations such as the American Bird Conservancy, which works on reducing threats to birds and building the bird conservation movement.

It is going to take a more invested effort from everyone to ensure that we slow and eliminate the decline of bird populations. Backyard birds, forest birds, waterfowl, birds of prey. They all need our support and advocacy.

Wait, my birding friends would rather me say the Yellow-rumped Warbler, the Pileated Woodpecker, the Double-crested Cormorant, the Red-tailed Hawk…

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