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A recent study revealed that the bird population in North America has significantly dropped in the last 50 years.
Statistical analysis of bird populations since 1970 revealed that birds in the United States and Canada have decreased by 2.9 billion. According to researchers, the results were notable because they showed that the birds lost are not only from threatened species in the wild. They found that a huge number came from species commonly found in backyards or cities, such as sparrows.
The study did not explicitly discuss the reasons for the population decline. However, experts hypothesize that this extensive loss was caused by the destruction of the birds’ habitat.
The decline causes a serious concern because birds are vital to the ecosystem. They play an important role in the food chain, like eating insects that humans consider as pests. They also serve as agents of reproduction to various types of plants.
In response to this alarming issue, a website called 3billionbirds.org has been launched to teach people simple tips on how to keep birds safe. Suggestions on the website include installing screens on windows to prevent birds from crashing into buildings, keeping cats indoors, adding native plants to backyards for bird shelter, avoiding pesticides and single-use plastics, and supporting coffee producers that do not destroy bird habitats.
Researchers are hopeful that proper funding of bird conservation efforts will help the population to bounce back. They also believe that policy decisions will be of great help to protect birds and their habitat.