It’s Official: Our Feathered Friends
Are Disappearing at Alarming Rate

Population declines for some of the most recognized and beloved birds in Vermont echo the disturbing findings of a new analysis by the National Audubon Society that reveals how local and national threats are combining to take a toll on birds, habitat and the environment across the country.

"These are not rare or exotic birds we’re talking about. These are the birds that visit our feeders and congregate at nearby lakes and seashores and yet they are disappearing day by day," said Audubon Chairperson and former EPA Administrator, Carol Browner. "Their decline tells us we have serious work to do, from protecting local habitats to addressing the huge threats from global warming."

The national study found that populations of some common birds nosedived over the past forty years, with several down nearly 80%. In Vermont, the Eastern Towhee, Eastern Meadowlark and Eastern Wood-Pewee topped the list, with declines as high as 91%.

The Vermont trends mirrored the dramatic national declines that are attributed to the loss of grasslands, healthy forests and wetlands and other critical habitats from multiple environmental threats such as sprawl, acid rain and habitat fragmentation. The study notes that these threats are now compounded by new and broader problems including the escalating effects of global warming.

"Vermont is globally important for bird populations; however, both forest and grassland birds have been hard hit. Even our beloved state bird the Hermit Thrush has experienced a 63% decline," said Jim Shallow, Audubon Vermont Conservation and Policy Director. "As Vermont develops more forestland and grassland, critical breeding habitat is being degraded."

Species especially hard hit in Vermont include:

• Hermit Thrush down 63 percent, nest on the forest floor and are threatened from development which fragments forest habitat leaving nesting birds vulnerable to predation from raccoon, skunks and house cats which often accompany residential development.

• Eastern Meadowlarks, down 91 percent, are threatened by the loss of grasslands to sprawl and changing agricultural practices which emphasize early and multiple mowings or the conversion to row crops

• Purple Finch down 76%, decreasing for an unknown reason but the decline may be related to a lack of multiple layers of vegetation in our forests.

• White-throated Sparrow down 74%, may be declining from a loss of shrubby vegetation as a result of a maturing forest and in some cases over-browsing by deer.

• Common Tern, declining by 74% nationally, in Vermont the species has declined by 50%. Audubon Vermont has helped stabilize the population through intensive management on island sanctuaries on Lake Champlain.

Audubon Vermont is working with individuals across the state to monitor bird populations, and promote sound stewardship on the ground.

"It is essential that we reach out to landowners with guidance and support for managing their lands in bird-friendly ways," said Jim Shallow. "Our Forest Bird Initiative is providing forest landowners with guidance on how to manage woodlots in bird friendly ways.

And, Audubon Vermont’s Common Tern Restoration program is actively managing several Islands on Lake Champlain to return the species to the skies over the Lake." Audubon volunteers are participating in monitoring programs including the annual Christmas Bird Count, Marshbird Monitoring and ebird.

Audubon's "Common Birds in Decline" list stems from the first-ever analysis combining annual sighting data from Audubon's century-old Christmas Bird Count program with results of the annual Breeding Bird Survey conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey.

"This is a powerful example of how tens of thousands of volunteer birders, pooling their observations, can make an enormous difference for the creatures they care the most about," said noted natural history writer Scott Weidensaul. "Thanks to their efforts, we have the information. Now all of us—from birders to policy makers—need to take action to keep these species from declining even further."

"Fortunately, what individual people do can still make a difference," says Shallow. Audubon Vermont encourages people to take an active role in maintaining and protecting bird habitat.

More information about Audubon’s Common Birds in Decline analysis is available at www.audubon.org