A new study from researchers with ABC, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and other partners published in Science shows that North American bird species are declining in the areas where they should be faring well.

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Analysis at the finest scale attempted for research of this kind shows that although 83 percent of species are declining where they’re most abundant, nearly all are increasing in other areas. These areas where populations are increasing may help researchers identify what conservation strategies are working and apply them elsewhere.

One of the oldest environmental laws in the United States, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act has protected millions — if not billions — of birds since it was signed in 1918. A recent legal opinion from the Department of the Interior has redefined how the MBTA is applied in industrial settings, undermining a key provision of the Act that has driven companies to adopt better practices to protect birds. The opinion rolls back that progress and puts birds at risk.

The ancient old-growth forests of the Pacific Northwest are critical habitat for the Northern Spotted Owl and Marbled Murrelet, both listed under the Endangered Species Act. It’s thanks to environmental policies protecting federally managed lands that these species have a fighting chance. Now, those habitats and the species they host are under threat.

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The Fix Our Forests Act being considered in the U.S. Congress would weaken protections for national forests, opening the door to large-scale logging. The problem is deeper in the Northwest, where stewardship plans are under revision and vulnerable to changes that could undermine restoration efforts.

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Urgent action is needed to defend the forests of the Pacific Northwest, and national forests across the U.S. Birds need your voice: Contact your representatives today.

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When threats to birds get bigger, we go bold. Catch our recent webinar to hear from ABC’s experts who are taking bold action and finding innovative solutions to meet the challenges birds are facing head on. From the halls of Congress to cacao farms in Honduras, and everywhere in between, ABC is delivering for birds.

Migration is not for the faint of heart! Birds encounter a gauntlet of threats as they travel, and though millions of birds set out for their breeding grounds each year, many won’t make it. Follow the journey of one little Cerulean Warbler as he dodges deforested habitats, outmaneuvers outdoor cats, and overcomes the odds.

Window collisions are a threat to birds (both resident and migratory) in any season, but migration brings the toll of these needless deaths into sharp focus. While any bird can fall victim to a collision with reflective glass, some species are more susceptible than others. Meet the most frequent colliders and find tips to make your windows safer for birds.

Many birders wait with bated breath for the arrival of spring in the Northern Hemisphere, and with it, the return of warblers heading toward their breeding grounds. Though habitat loss, window collisions, and other threats put warblers at risk, ABC and our partners are working to make the journey safer for these much- loved migratory birds.

Would a warbler by any other name still sing as sweetly? The answer is: yes! Many of North America’s 53 warbler species are conveniently named and brightly colored. But some break the mold, like the stream-stepping, tail-pumping Louisiana Waterthrush and the Ovenbird, lover of leaf litter and forest floors. Learn more about the wide array of warblers, the role they play in our ecosystems, and what we can do to conserve these little spring songsters.?

Judith, thank you for caring about birds.?You can support ABC's mission to conserve wild birds and their habitats by?

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American Bird Conservancy
P.O. Box 249
The Plains, VA 20198
United States