Now that the canary has stopped singing, what does that mean for us? Can we live without birds? Not without the tree sparrow, certainly. But the tangibility of the situation — the dead bird in the house cat’s teeth, the ortolan bunting traps lining fragmented habitats, the casual birdwatcher noting declines over the years — provides evidence of the severity and consequences of our alterations. Birds being a part of our everyday lives, it’s hard to swallow that our children and grandchildren may live to experience a songless day, without birds. Even the most adaptable species are struggling to hold on in a human-dominated landscape. The fact that people can readily observe this reflects the unfortunate fate of many other animals worldwide.
With active conservation, however, it is possible to reverse some of these effects. Geolocating migratory species, controlling invasive populations, regulating a balance of habitats, predicting climate change, and preventing the problem from getting much worse will benefit birds and more. Organizations such as the Audubon Society are implementing many of these strategies, but individuals can make a difference, too. Planting native trees and shrubs, keeping cats inside, and putting up feeders, bird houses, and roosting boxes is all it takes. Although humans created the problems that characterize this mass extinction, many are taking ownership and steps to do what they can to keep the canary alive and singing.
References
Ackerman, J. (2016). The genius of birds. New York, 10014: Penguin Books. Audubon. (n.d.).
Conservation: Protecting birds and their habitats. Retrieved November 13, 2017, from http://www.audubon.org
/conservation Cornell Lab Ornithologists. (n.d.).
Cerulean warbler. Retrieved November 13, 2017, from The Cornell Lab of Ornithology website: https:/
/www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Cerulean_Warbler/id
Liminana, A. (2017, January 29). https://munchies.vice.com/en_us/article/8qenxv/ why-the-french-cant-get-enough-
of-this-illegal-bird. Retrieved from Munchies website: https://munchies.vice.com/en_us/article/8qenxv/why-the
-french-cant-get-enough-of-this-illegal-bird
Meet Elmer, one smart, lucky cerulean warbler. Retrieved from American Bird Conservancy website: https:/abcbirds.org/
meet-elmer-cerulean-warbler/
Rynard, S. (Director). (2016). The messenger. Canada: SongbirdSOS Productions. (2015) ABC Staff. (2016, November
30).
The extinction crisis. (n.d.). Retrieved from Center for Biological Diversity website: http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/
programs/biodiversity/elements_of_biodiversity/extinction_crisis/
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