Don't be a landscaper, be a birdscaper, and build back connections for birds right at home!
And that's just what our latest edition of "Life in the Garden" focused on, here is an excerpt:
Each autumn bird watching enthusiasts flock to Rhode Island and Southeastern, MA; main stops on the Atlantic Flyway. Glimpses of rare birds and awe-inspiring views of flocks of beloved common sea and songbirds are all possible, especially in the southern corners of the region. But with each passing season, there are less birds to see; our birds are in trouble.
Scientists have suspected bird losses for some time, but only in the last few years have declines been quantified. In 2019 researchers from seven institutions released a State of the Birds report with alarming news; North America lost 2.9 billion or 30% of our birds since 1970. This includes common birds like juncos, blackbirds and finches. It was described as a staggering loss that suggests the very fabric of North America’s ecosystem is unraveling.
Data for our region is equally grim. A 2023 study released by the Audubon Society of Rhode Island found more than 1/3 of breeding birds are in decline, including backyard favorites like catbirds, blue jays and robins. The report emphasizes that the health of our bird populations is inextricably linked to our own well-being.
Work is underway to better understand the reasons for these declines, but scientists are confident that the top reason is loss and fragmentation of habitat. We cannot put back habitat that has been lost to development, but we can work together to reconnect vibrant patches of nature that do remain and in doing so can create corridors of habitat right across the East Bay and beyond. Click below to continue reading and then get digging!
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