America’s bird population is facing a troubling decline, with nearly 3 billion birds disappearing from the skies since 1970. The majority of these losses can be observed in migratory species that breed in the United States or Canada during the summer before migrating to other areas for the winter. These birds spend more time in Caribbean beaches and Costa Rican forests than in American backyards. Viviana Ruiz-Gutierrez, co-director of the Center for Avian Population Studies at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, describes them as “visitors to North America.”
Protecting these birds requires international collaboration and the preservation of their habitats, many of which are under threat. If migratory birds lose their winter refuges, it will have consequences throughout the entire hemisphere. Jeremy Radachowsky, the director for Mesoamerica and the western Caribbean at the Wildlife Conservation Society, emphasizes the importance of Central America’s forests in preserving North America’s bird population.
To highlight these connections, scientists at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology collaborated with Partners in Flight, an international bird conservation network, to develop “shared stewardship” maps. These maps showcase the key wintering grounds for migratory species that have a significant presence in specific U.S. states or regions. The data used to create the maps are sourced from eBird, a database of observations from bird watchers worldwide.
Let’s take a look at some of these connections:
1. The New York Metro Area:
Many of the birds that visit New York City during the summer migrate to winter habitats along the southern coasts of the United States or the Caribbean. Shorebird populations have experienced significant declines in recent years due to disturbances and pollution along the coasts. Piping plovers, a small shorebird, have been the focus of conservation efforts in New York City. A third of the Atlantic population spends the winter in the Bahamas, where conservation projects have made a substantial impact on their preservation.
2. Missouri:
Missouri provides breeding habitats for many grassland bird species, which have been experiencing declines. These birds spend their winter in the southeastern United States and even South America. However, they face threats from human development, farming, and field mowing, which disrupt their nests. Conservation efforts by organizations like SELVA in Colombia have shed light on the movements and survival of birds like the cerulean warbler during their time in South America.
3. Colorado:
Colorado is home to various bird species that migrate to the grasslands of Argentina and the arid grasslands of Northern Mexico. These grasslands are under threat from climate change, overgrazing, and agricultural expansion. Mexican nonprofits and community groups are working alongside U.S.-based groups to monitor, restore, and protect these grasslands. Additionally, Colorado’s cliffs and caves provide habitats for black swifts, one of the most mysterious migrating birds that travel nonstop to the Amazon.
4. California:
Along the Pacific Flyway, which stretches from Alaska to South America, numerous West Coast species migrate. Many of these birds, including shorebirds and warblers, spend their winter in destinations like Mexico’s mangrove swamps and pine-oak forests. Conservation efforts are underway in places like the Marismas Nacionales to protect these habitats. Some bird species, like elegant terns, even fly all the way to Chile.
It’s crucial to understand and protect the migratory connections and habitats that birds rely on for their survival. By working together internationally and taking conservation measures, we can ensure the preservation of North America’s bird population.
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