It Takes a Flock BIRDS ARE DISAPPEARING , BUT YOU CAN HELP
By Elise Amacker , Audubon Nature Institute
As the weather begins to warm and the trees and plants bounce back from the winter freezes , it ’ s the perfect time to spot a vibrant red cardinal or bright blue jay , hear the coo of a mourning dove , or the melodious song of a warbler in your backyard . But birds aren ’ t just background players in a beautiful spring day . They are part of the group of insects , mammals and birds on which the future of life on Earth depends . That ’ s because birds are pollinators and seed dispersers , transferring pollen from one plant to another to help it produce fruits and seeds , then spreading those seeds throughout their habitats to allow new plants to grow .
These species pollinate over 90 % of the planet ’ s flowering plants and one third of the human diet . While many people think of bees as the only pollinators , birds ( as well as bats and other small animals , and insects like beetles and butterflies ) are also in this critical category .
Despite such diversity in species , pollinators share one alarming trait : their populations are declining due to habitat loss from urban development , pollution , chemical misuse , and climate change . With these threats , pollinators like birds are losing the food and nesting sites critical for their survival .
Though you may see lots of birds in your everyday life , a 2019 study by researchers from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology , American Bird Conservancy , Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute , U . S . Geological Survey , the Canadian Wildlife Service , and other
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