Disappearing Common Birds Send Environmental Wake-up Call:
Audubon Analyses Reveals Dramatic Declines for Some of North Carolina’s Most Familiar Birds  

Population declines for some of the most recognized and beloved birds in North Carolina echo the disturbing findings a 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 percent.  In North Carolina, Northern Bobwhite, Loggerhead Shrike, and Common Tern topped the list, with declines of between 96% and 79%.  The dramatic national declines are attributed to the loss of grasslands, healthy forests and wetlands, and other critical habitats from multiple environmental threats such as sprawl, energy development, and the spread of industrialized agriculture. The study notes that these threats are now compounded by new and broader problems including the escalating effects of global warming and demand for corn-based ethanol.  With North Carolina’s population expected to grow by more than 50% in the next two decades, these birds and their habitats are going to be under increased pressure for suitable habitats.  “With that increase in population comes additional demands on land, water, air quality, and recreational use of public lands - each with its own potential impacts on these birds,” stated Curtis Smalling, Audubon North Carolina’s Important Bird Areas Coordinator.   

Species especially hard hit in North Carolina include: 
· Northern Bobwhite showing a decline of 96% have virtually vanished from most of North Carolina due mainly to loss of suitable habitat from development, changes in agricultural methods, and increases in predators. 
· Common Terns, down 79% over the past 30 years, are especially vulnerable to disturbance from people and predators we bring with us as we develop coastal areas.  A single feral cat, unleashed dog, or raccoon can mean the difference between success and failure for a whole colony of these colonial nesters (birds that nest close together)
· Loggerhead Shrike, down 95% on Christmas Bird Counts in North Carolina and almost 100% from Breeding Bird Survey Routes.  This bird, like the Field Sparrow (down 84% from Christmas Bird Counts and 59% in Breeding Bird Survey Routes,) is a victim of more efficient farming practices, which leave little room for field borders and shrubby abandoned fields.  These “early successional” habitats are also unpopular aesthetically and are often cleared, even if the land is not currently in use for agriculture.
· Eastern Meadowlarks, down 79%, are threatened by the loss of grasslands from development or reforestation as small family farms decline.  Changes in the timing and frequency of hay mowing are also taking a toll on this and other grassland nesters.   

           Audubon North Carolina is working with individuals and agencies across the state to monitor bird populations, and promote sound stewardship on the ground for these and other species.
-Our 19 coastal sanctuaries provide nesting, foraging, and resting habitat for thousands of waterbirds and shorebirds every year. 
-Our partnerships with other agencies and private groups including the National Park Service, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, various local land trusts, the Army Corps of Engineers, and many others help make real differences in the habitats available for these and other bird species.
-Our formal partnership with North Carolina State Parks allows us to work with park personnel on inventory and monitoring, making the case for new acquisitions, and assisting with training of parks personnel.
-Our Adopt an Important Bird Area Program is helping to insure that regular monitoring of our 96 Important Bird Areas encompassing 4.5 million acres, by local Chapter volunteers, cooperating agencies, and others is done in a systematic way, providing valuable data for land managers to evaluate their land management practices.
-Our advocacy work on behalf of these and other bird species continues to be an important focus of Audubon North Carolina’s work. 
-Our educational efforts reach out to thousands each year, including innovative programs to teach other educators about the diversity of bird life in North Carolina. 

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." 

Public response will shape the long-term outlook for North Carolina’s Common Birds in Decline. Curtis Smalling was quick to add that citizens can do some things to help these and other species.  “Often, very simple things can make huge differences for these birds.  Delaying hay harvest until nesting is completed in hay meadows (usually around July 4th), retaining weedy and shrubby field edges and buffers, minimizing disturbance to beach nesting birds while nesting, keeping our cats indoors, and making informed choices about how we manage our own personal land can all make a difference in stabilizing these declining bird populations.” 

More information about Audubon’s Common Birds in Decline analysis is available at www.audubon.org <http://www.audubon.org>.