Page 7 - North Haven Magazine Issue 39 Summer 2025

Osprey and other birds of prey are making a Conservation has saved our whooping cranes.
good comeback.
PRESENT of companion planting and benefi- bird, the bald eagle, osprey, Cali-
Looking from 1970 to 2020, North cial insects reduce exposure to poi- fornia condor, and Peregrine fal-
America and Canada lost 2.9 billion sons. When birds eat insects and con.
adult breeding birds in 50 years. rodents killed by poisons, the birds
Several billion birds continue to die are exposed to the poison and of-
each year due to human activities. ten die.
In less than a single human life-
time, a third of our birds have been Keeping cats indoors, or in a “cat-
lost. These losses occur in five ma- io” which is an outdoor patio that
jor bird families which many of us contains the cat, protects our birds.
recognize: blackbird, finch, spar- Catios allow cats to enjoy the out-
row, lark, and warbler. And more doors but keep the birds safe from
than 90% of total loss (2.9 billion) predation. Bells on collars have not
is in twelve common families. been successful in protecting the
birds.
CAUSES OF POPULATION Our national bird was
DECLINE Land management is another way
We need to think about what is to help save birds. Conservation of saved by conservation efforts.
causing these deaths which are important ecosystems provides the Other bird species are also recover-
due to human activities and what environments needed by specific ing. From 10,000 whooping cranes
we can do about it. The most com- species. Planting native plants and to an all-time low of only fifteen
mon causes are loss of habitat, shrubs supplies the natural food birds, captive -raising and special
collisions (with windows, vehicles, needed by birds, while removing care have brought the number up
wind turbines, power lines, and invasive plant species maintains a to 550. These are one of America’s
communication towers), cat pre- healthy environment for them. rarest birds and are still highly en-
dation, poisons, and contaminants dangered. Purple martins are now
(oil spills). PROVEN RESULTS off the threatened list due to con-
We have proven that it is possible servation projects and volunteers
Currently there is a strong interest to take appropriate steps to help working with the Audubon Societ-
in methods of reducing window maintain the environment need- ies.
collisions. Death rates are espe- ed for our birds to survive. In the
cially high in cities during migra- 1940s it was common to use DDT With continued support and do-
tion periods. Lights seem to con- as an insecticide in gardens, farms, nations to the Audubon Societies,
fuse birds, and daylight causes homes, and institutions. However, and increased awareness of the
reflections on the glass. Turning off this chemical was responsible for causes of bird deaths, we can save
lights, directing lights down, using the loss of many birds and other more species from extinction. En-
blue or green external lights, and species. The government acted couraging young children to learn
modifying glass surface with stick- to regulate the use of DDT in the about birds and guiding older chil-
ers will help birds avoid collisions. late 1950s. Over time, many of the dren to work on projects to help
affected bird species began to re- protect our birds will also lead to
Using natural products and meth- cover and moved from being en- saving birds. The future can be
ods to control pests and weeds, dangered or threatened to a safer brighter for our birds.
saves birds. Organic gardening, use level. This includes our national

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