Worrisome declines continue across most avian groups
Peterborough Examiner – March 28, 2025 – by Drew Monkman
Lost in the political turmoil consuming all of our attention since the re-election of Donald Trump is the worrisome state of biodiversity in both Canada and the U.S. The situation stands to get even worse as Trump and Elon Musk take a chainsaw to nearly all of the American agencies whose work is vital to species protection. If you value nature, it’s therefore crucially important to choose wisely when you cast your ballot on April 28.
Given all that’s happening, I’d like to bring readers up to date on the state of Canada’s birds. Birds Canada, working in collaboration with Environment and Climate Change Canada, released a dire report last October. While a few bird populations have grown over the last five decades, many others have declined dramatically.
Waterfowl, raptors & wetland birds
Let’s begin with good news. Bird populations in these groups have all increased since 1970. Early in the last century, many of these species were on the brink of extinction. This proves that when we take deliberate and informed action for conservation, it works.
Wood ducks, for example, were once threatened by habitat loss and overhunting. Peregrine falcons, the fasted animal in the world, were almost wiped out in the 1950s by DDT poisoning. They are now a flagship example of conservation success. Peregrine falcons are regularly seen in Peterborough and nest on Anstruther Lake. The poster bird for the recovery of wetland species is the least bittern – the tiniest heron in the world and surprisingly common locally.
Forest and marine birds
Species in these groups appear relatively unchanged, but this does not mean that all populations are stable. A similar number of species have increased as have decreased. The oceanic lifestyle of marine birds like puffins makes them vulnerable to the effects of climate change like severe weather and changes in fish populations. They are also particularly vulnerable to avian influenza. Recent outbreaks have drastically impacted some breeding colonies such as those of northern gannets.
Forest birds live in Canada’s coniferous, deciduous, and mixed forests. This large group contains mostly songbirds like vireos, warblers, thrushes, flycatchers, finches, and sparrows. Forest bird populations appear stable overall, but only because roughly the same number of species are increasing as are decreasing. One species that is struggling is the beautiful and highly sociable evening grosbeak. It is affected by threats like habitat alteration and insect decline.
Like many long-distance migrants (see below), forest birds that migrate from Canada’s forests to those in the tropics are declining. These birds’ long journeys expose them to many risks. In contrast, birds that spend their entire year in Canada – e.g., pileated woodpeckers – have shown a modest increase.
Arctic birds & shorebirds
Arctic birds live in the expansive tundra of Canada’s north. Some, like the specially adapted ptarmigan, spend their entire lives in this rugged landscape. Others, like Arctic-nesting shorebirds, take advantage of the long days and food-rich Arctic summer before migrating south. Arctic-nesters like sandpipers and plovers have declined by an alarming 54%. These birds make long and challenging migrations. Some, like the critically endangered Hudsonian godwit, winter as far south as Argentina. The impacts of climate change are believed to be the single largest threat facing Arctic birds. Among these impacts is a change in the timing of plant and insect emergence. Peak food availability is moving out of sync with the birds’ breeding cycles.
Shorebirds also nest in other habitats across Canada, including the Prairies where worsening droughts are a huge concern. Habitat loss also explains much of their precipitous decline of shorebirds across the entire country. This is especially true for the wetlands and coastal areas they rely on.
Aerial insectivores
Aerial insectivores are linked by their unique feeding strategy of catching insects in flight. Many are among Canada’s fastest and nimblest fliers. This group includes swallows, swifts, flycatchers and nightjars like whip-poor-wills. Bank swallows, for example, have declined precipitously by over 90%. In Peterborough County, however, you can still find small numbers nesting in gravel pits.
One glimmer of hope is that the population freefall of aerial insectivores has leveled off in recent years, but population levels are far below where they should be. Anyone who grew up on a farm can remember how abundant species like barn swallows used to be.
The threats affecting aerial insectivores are complex and not entirely understood. Declines in insect populations are almost certainly a driving factor and linked to pesticide use, farming practices, wetland drainage, and the effects of climate change.
Grassland birds
Grassland birds are specially adapted to life in the grass-dominated habitats of the Prairies as well as smaller grasslands, hayfields and meadows across the country. This group includes songbirds like sparrows, longspurs, bobolinks and meadowlarks as well as some shorebirds and birds of prey. Native grasslands are the most endangered habitat in the country, putting these birds at the epicenter of a conservation crisis. Grassland birds have declined more than any other group.
The biggest threat to these birds is the destruction and fragmentation of the grasslands they rely on. Conversion to croplands is the main cause. Climate change, too, is drastically affecting the Prairies, causing both droughts and floods to be more frequent and severe. For birds like bobolinks, early mowing of fields for hay in June and July coincides with the bobolink nesting season, destroying nests, eggs, and fledglings. The increased planting of monocultures is also reducing breeding habitat. Fortunately, bobolinks are still fairly common in the Kawarthas.
Long-distance migrants
Birds migrating south to Latin America have declined by almost one-third since 1970. Of these, the blackpoll warbler is the long-distance champion, migrating from the most northern Canadian boreal forests to wintering grounds in the Caribbean and South America. Some fly non-stop from the Maritimes to these destinations, making the longest known flight over water of any songbird. Tragically, their population has declined by about 80% since 1970.
By contrast, short-distance migrants, which go no further than the U.S., have only declined by 12%. Robins and grackles belong to this group. Year-round resident birds like cardinals and mourning doves have actually increased by 9%.
Long-distance migrants need access to safe places with abundant food to rest and refuel on their travels. Habitat loss and degradation affects these stopover sites. Their wintering grounds, too, are threatened, since many are in areas undergoing rapid development for tourism or for the production of crops such as coffee. Window collisions and outdoor cats are also major threats, especially when migration brings them into more urban areas. Cross-border collaboration is critical to conserving these species.
A dire U.S. report
The just-released 2025 State of the Birds Report reveals continued, widespread declines in U.S. bird populations across all habitats, with 229 species now requiring urgent conservation action.
At least 112 species have experienced population reductions of 50% or more over the past 50 years. The report also identifies 112 species at a “tipping point,” with 42 exhibiting alarmingly low numbers and steep declines. Even waterfowl populations now appear to be declining in the U.S. with numbers down by 20% since 2014. Prolonged drought in the Great Plains has taken a huge toll.
The report underscores that current approaches to conservation are insufficient to reverse these trends. It advocates for implementing additional measures that benefit birds, habitats, and people alike.
What you can do
Here are six ways you can help birds today:
- Vote for political parties that prioritize climate action and habitat protection.
- Create bird habitat on your own property and make windows safer for birds by applying Feather Friendly window collision tape.
- Keep cats indoors and leash dogs in sensitive areas where birds may be resting or nesting.
- Take part in citizen science initiatives such as iNaturalist. Use eBird to report your sightings.
- Choose bird-friendly products. Look for sustainable products like Birds and Beans bird-friendly coffee and Canadian grass-fed beef.
- Donate to Birds Canada at https://www.birdscanada.org/ Your gift will go to work providing critical help to species of highest concern, monitoring bird populations, supporting volunteer Citizen Scientists.
