North American bird update finds a little good news
Preserving habitat has encouraged wetland species, but many others need protection
By Susan Milius
WASHINGTON — A few signs of progress brightened the 2014 State of the Birds Report for the United States and Canada, released September 9. Three of six groups of birds — those breeding in freshwater wetlands, along coasts and in grasslands — grew in numbers or held steady since the last report in 2009.
The populations of wetlands specialists, 87 species such as mallards, on average have grown by more than 40 percent since 1968. Numbers of grassland-specialist birds have stabilized since the 2009 report that found worryingly low levels, said Peter Marra, head of the Smithsonian Institution’s Migratory Bird Center in Washington, D.C. He summarized the report on behalf of 23 federal and nongovernmental groups that issued this fifth compilation since 1989 of bird trends.