Europe has an estimated 421 million fewer birds than three decades ago, and current treatment of the environment is unsustainable for many common species, a study released on Monday said.
The population crash is related to modern farming methods and the loss and damage of habitats, according to the study published in science journal Ecology Letters.
"This is a warning from birds throughout Europe. It is clear that the way we are managing the environment is unsustainable for many of our most familiar species," said Richard Gregory of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, which co-led the study.
"The conservation and legal protection of all birds and their habitats in tandem are essential to reverse declines."
The study found that about 90 percent of the decline occurred in the most common bird species, including grey partridges, skylarks, sparrows and starlings.
Meanwhile the population of some rarer birds had increased in recent years, likely due to conservation efforts and legal protections.
Such a decline in common birds is concerning as "it is this group of birds that people benefit from the most", according to University of Exeter researcher Richard Inger.
"Significant loss of common birds could be quite detrimental to human society," Inger said.
The scientists estimated the loss of bird populations by analysing data on 144 species of European birds, collected from surveys in 25 countries, often by voluntary fieldworkers.
If there could be an incentive for every community to engage in planting varieties of bushes and flowers that serve birds it could help and also wild flowers should be seeded where ever possible and protection of creeks and steams; keeping them clean. School children could make bird houses in Shop-Class and help install them in a community park. I am blessed with a bird filled forest all about me.
ReplyDeleteIts the ballance that is rocked in several ways, and all the pesticids used, that alters their imune systems and in the long runn due to short life spanns the result comes mutch more quicer.
ReplyDeleteThey will never admitt that.
And some other aspects that isnt considered but I know it works, the amount of elcs and dears is way to high, and they eat the same food as many birds do, if an population of 4 legged risses, it has consequencess that is affecting birds, Canada had one sutch revelation some years ago, and I found it to be true.
And like Cats, I have cats, both of them is not chasing birds, since I have talked them from doing it, mice, yess, but not birds, it works, talk to them and say, wurds that they understands its about, noughty boy, and they will act, Cats arent stupid, just be patient and they will learn.
I dont do anything else than talk to them, that by the way goes to everything else, incl some f.... huge spiders in the hallway.
The litle birds, are natural in artic, and if you should respect a litle creature that is lives in areas where the could plunges to -40, and manages to survive it, then this litle birds are a prime example of just that, I do infact respect this comon birds hihgly.
peace
Western Europe has been over-developed and Eastern Europe had Chernobyl.
ReplyDelete