GREAT OUTDOORS: Bird populations declining faster on farmland

Birding enthusiasts were shocked to learn of an article published in 2019 in the journal Science that documented the loss of 2.9 billion birds in North America between 1970 and 2017. The news was widely shared by media outlets but got buried with COVID-19 hysteria soon after. In an article appearing in the February 2026 issue of Science, an Ohio State University study revealed more details, including that from 1987-2021, nearly half (47%) of the bird species populations here have continued to decrease, and in many cases at faster rates. Dr. Francois Leroy, a Czech post-doctoral researcher, and his colleagues specifically discovered that populations of 122 of the 261 species tallied by following 1,033 bird breeding survey routes declined. Of these 122 species, 63 fell at faster rates than shown in the earlier study. Some populations remained steady, but for those that are increasing, 67 species did so at declining per-capita growth rates. There were net losses of bird populations almost everywhere on their routes, but the most rapid rates of decline occurred in intensively farmed areas, notable in California, the Midwest and mid-Atlantic states. These findings are significant because 40% of the land in the U.S. is used for agriculture. Fields of farmed monoculture crops that rely heavily on fertilizer and pesticides covering large expanses of open acreage likely cause these losses. Insecticides diminish the numbers of invertebrates that remain available for birds to consume. Insects and spiders are critical components of the early diets of most species of songbird and gamebird chicks and serve as their primary moisture source. Baby birds need the high protein and fat content for rapid bone, muscle and beak development that seeds and berries alone do not provide. Birds have a hard time in hot weather and the intensely farmed areas often have fewer trees for shade. The warming climate is also heavily affecting birds in southern portions of the U.S., namely in Florida, Texas, Louisiana and Arizona. Earlier warmups in the spring allow insects to emerge before migrating birds have arrived to their normal breeding ranges, starving them of expected food sources and forcing them to travel into unfamiliar territory. Some of the sharpest declines seen were in the populations of common grackle, European starling, red-winged blackbird, nighthawks, meadowlarks, house sparrows and grasshopper sparrows. West Nile Virus may explain some of the losses. Crows suffer nearly 100% mortality and poor outcomes are also often seen in other members of the blackbird family, which include ravens, European starlings and blue jays. Some waterfowl are also affected and many birds of prey have been taken to bird rehabilitators after being found on the ground, weakened by the virus and unable to fly. Because this study used specific survey routes, it is unknown if or how much the population fell throughout the entire continent. ODNR controlled access hunt July 31 is the deadline for applying for about 150 ODNR controlled access deer, waterfowl blind, dove, pheasant, quail and small game hunts across Ohio. To view the list of opportunities, see ohiodnr.gov. Applicants must be licensed to hunt for the named species to be eligible to enter each drawing. Fees for each application are $3 online at: oh-web.s3licensing.com/Home (Licenses & Permits) or a $5.50 service fee at 1-866-703-1928.