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We’ve lost 3 billion birds since 1970 in North America

Scientists found profound losses among both rare and common birds

snowy owls, sanderlings, cactus wrens and Western meadowlarks

Populations of rare and common birds alike are decreasing across North America, including (clockwise from top left) snowy owls, sanderlings, cactus wrens and Western meadowlarks.

Clockwise from top left: Doug Hitchcox, Andy Eckerson, Brian Sullivan, Matthew Pendleton/Macaulay Library at Cornell Lab of Ornithology

By Jonathan Lambert

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