{"id":11077,"date":"2022-06-03T16:54:00","date_gmt":"2022-06-03T15:54:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/?p=11077"},"modified":"2024-02-18T14:16:31","modified_gmt":"2024-02-18T14:16:31","slug":"bird-population-decline","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/bird-population-decline\/","title":{"rendered":"20 Awareness-Raising Bird Population Decline Stats for 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unless you live in the center of a metropolitan city, you\u2019re probably used to seeing birds all around you. However, depending on your age, you might have noticed there aren\u2019t as many birds as there were decades ago.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unfortunately, this is true \u2014 the population of birds is dropping all around the world. If you\u2019re interested in the numbers and reasons, keep reading.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id='is-there-a-bird-population-decline'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Is There a <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bird Population Decline<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yes, there is. According to a study from 2018, almost 40% of all known bird species are in decline. Moreover, one out of every eight species is critically endangered \u2014 likely to go extinct in the next 10 years or three generations.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Below, we\u2019ll go deeper into the numbers and factors affecting them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(AllAboutBirds, 2018)<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id='top-10-stats-and-facts-about-birds'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Top 10 Stats And Facts About Birds<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are around <a href=\"#50 billion birds\">50 billion birds<\/a> in the world.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are <a href=\"#11,158 bird species\">11,158 bird species<\/a> in the world.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Scientists estimate that <a href=\"#159 bird species have disappeared\">159 bird species have disappeared<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0in the last 500 years.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In North America, there are around <a href=\"#2,059 bird species\">2,059 bird species<\/a>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"#Wind farms\">Wind farms<\/a> kill between 140,000 and 679,000 birds in the US each year.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A <a href=\"#commonly used pesticide\">commonly used pesticide<\/a> is a reason for <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">songbird population decline<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in the US.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the EU, there were <a href=\"#5% fewer common birds\">5% fewer common birds<\/a> in 2018 than there were in 2000.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Australia, a pet cat that roams kills an average of <a href=\"#56 birds per year\">56 birds per year<\/a>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are <a href=\"#1.6 billion house sparrows\">1.6 billion house sparrows<\/a> in the world.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"#Dodo\">Dodo<\/a> went extinct less than 200 years from its discovery.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id='general-bird-population-stats'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">General Bird Population Stats<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Have you ever wondered <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">how many birds are in the world<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2022<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">? We\u2019ll try to answer that question in the following stats, as well as share some other general details about birds.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='1-research-from-2021-estimates-there-are-around-50-billion-birds-in-the-world'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1. Research from 2021 estimates there are around 50 billion birds in the world.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(PNAS, 2021)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In order to protect birds, we must know how many birds there are. Of course, calculating this number is difficult, as birds have much greater freedom of movement than many other animal species.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, by taking into consideration the estimated bird population of 9,700 species, which is 92% of all known bird species, scientists have come up with the number above.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='2-according-to-bird-statistics-there-are-11158-bird-species-in-the-world'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2. According to<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> bird statistics<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, there are 11,158 bird species in the world.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(OurWorldInData, 2022)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Such a number is hard to determine with exact accuracy. After all, there could still be bird species that we haven\u2019t discovered yet. At the same time, some endangered bird species have <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.treehugger.com\/scientists-search-10-lost-bird-species-5215400\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">not been spotted in a long time<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and could possibly be extinct.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='3-scientists-estimate-that-159-bird-species-have-disappeared-in-the-last-500-years'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3. Scientists estimate that 159 bird species have disappeared in the last 500 years.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(OurWorldInData, 2022, Duke Today, 2006)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Similarly to the stat above, it\u2019s possible that some species have gone extinct without us even knowing about them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Moreover, it\u2019s important to note that more than half of the known bird species were discovered only after 1850 \u2014 in 1815, only about 5% of the world&#8217;s birds were known to researchers. With that in mind, this number is likely to be much higher.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='4-thanks-to-conservation-about-one-bird-species-is-lost-every-3%e2%80%934-years'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4. Thanks to conservation, about one bird species is lost every 3\u20134 years.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Duke Today, 2006)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is still not a positive statistic, though, especially considering that without human-related factors, only one bird species would be lost in 100 years.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Moreover, in 2006, experts warned that even with all the conservation efforts, due to increased human influence, we could expect about 1,200 fewer bird species by the end of the 21st century.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id='stats-about-bird-population-decrease-in-the-us'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stats About <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bird Population<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Decrease in the US<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The US is home to many birds, but unfortunately, not as many as it used to be. Considering the factors below, it\u2019s safe to say that when it comes to <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">bird population decline<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, people can only blame themselves. Keep reading to learn why.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='5-in-north-america-there-are-around-2059-bird-species'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5. In North America, there are around 2,059 bird species.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Boston Herald, 2020, The Cornell Lab of Ornithology, 2016)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some of the most common birds in the US are<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Sparrows, Red-Winged Blackbirds, Yellow-Rumped Warblers, And American Robins.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Moreover, research about the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">decline of the North American avifauna<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> from 2016 shows that 37% of US bird species are at risk of extinction if nothing is done to prevent it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The most endangered are seabirds and species that live in Mexican tropical forests, which are being destroyed for<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/deforestation-statistics\/\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">large-scale agriculture and cattle ranching<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='6-since-1970-there-has-been-a-29-decrease-in-the-number-of-birds-in-the-us'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">6. Since 1970, there has been a 29% decrease in the number of birds in the US.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Science, 2019, The Cornell Lab of Ornithology, 2022)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A study released in 2019 emphasizes that all bird species are in danger, not just the rare ones. So, this loss of 29% translates to nearly 3 billion birds from various biomes around the US. Forests, for example, lost about 1 billion birds, while grasslands lost 720 million.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='7-according-to-research-from-2013-free-ranging-cats-in-the-us-kill-1-3%e2%80%934-billion-birds-every-year'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">7. According to research from 2013, free-ranging cats in the US kill 1.3\u20134 billion birds every year.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(American Bird Conservancy, 2013)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the US, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/cat-statistics\/#42.7%20million%20US%20households\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">42.7 million households have at least one cat<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Unfortunately, many of those cats are free-ranging \u2014 allowed to explore their environment without their owner\u2019s supervision. While this may be fun for the cat, it\u2019s not so fun for all the wildlife they hunt.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Together with stray cats, they cause substantial damage to the bird population.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='8-in-the-us-365%e2%80%93988-million-birds-die-every-year-from-colliding-with-windows-and-other-reflective-surfaces'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">8. In the US, 365\u2013988 million birds die every year from colliding with windows and other reflective surfaces.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Plos One, 2019)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to research published in 2019, this mostly happens in cities where there are many residential and commercial buildings. Also, it\u2019s more common in spring and fall, when birds migrate.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Additionally, this number is only a part of much more significant <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">bird death statistics<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2014 up to 1.5 billion birds die annually from collisions with vehicles, buildings, energy infrastructure, and communication towers.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='9-wind-turbine-bird-death-statistics-show-wind-farms-kill-between-140000-and-679000-birds-in-the-us-each-year'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">9. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wind turbine bird death statistics<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> show wind farms kill between 140,000 and 679,000 birds in the US each year.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Plos One, 2020)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wind energy is considered one of the most sustainable types of energy today. Unfortunately, it\u2019s not entirely safe for everybody, and thousands of birds pay the price every year.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Moreover, since those estimates were given,<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/abcbirds.org\/blog21\/wind-turbines-are-threat-to-birds\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> more wind turbines have been built in the US<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, so the numbers today could be much higher too.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='10-between-1990-and-2019-there-have-been-about-227005-wildlife-strikes-by-planes-in-the-us'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">10. Between 1990 and 2019, there have been about 227,005 wildlife strikes by planes in the US.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(FAA, 2022)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s important to note that while 97% of those strikes are with birds, other animals, like deer, bats, and coyotes, can get in the way of planes too.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Also, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">aircraft bird strike statistics<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> tell us that more than half of those strikes happen during landing, while 36% of them happen during take-off. Only 3% happen during the flight.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='11-a-commonly-used-pesticide-is-a-reason-for-the-songbird-population-decline-in-the-us'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">11. A commonly used pesticide is a reason for the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Songbird population decline<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in the US.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(National Geographic 2019, Center for Biological Diversity, 2021)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Experts have proven that neonicotinoids can have <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/environment\/2020\/aug\/10\/pesticides-us-birds-species-biodiversity-study\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">severe effects on birds if ingested<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. What this type of insecticide does is suppress the birds\u2019 appetite, delaying their migration and harming their health. Consequently, this makes them less likely to breed successfully.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 2018, the EU banned the use of such chemicals because they were also killing the pollinators, but unfortunately, they\u2019re still used in the US.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id='global-bird-population-stats'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Global <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bird Population<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Stats<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The population of birds is dwindling everywhere, not just in the US. Here are a few stats about the number of birds in the rest of the world.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='12-indonesia-is-home-to-the-highest-number-of-endangered-endemic-species'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">12. Indonesia is home to the highest number of endangered endemic species.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(OurWorldInData, 2022)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are 106 bird species that are endemic to Indonesia and also close to extinction. After Indonesia, Brazil has 98 such bird species, which is 40% of the total number of endangered bird species in the country.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What makes this number worrisome is the fact that these birds only live in those countries \u2014 if they disappear from those places, they\u2019re gone for good.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='13-in-the-eu-there-were-5-fewer-common-birds-in-2018-than-there-were-in-2000'>13. In the EU, there were 5% fewer common birds in 2018 than there were in 2000.<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(OurWorldInData, 2022)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stats on <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">bird population decline<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> tell us that while there were 5% more forest bird species, there were 17% fewer common farmland species in 2018 than there were in 2000. Overall, it\u2019s still a significant decline.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='14-stats-for-2015%e2%80%932020-show-that-80-of-bird-species-in-india-are-in-decline'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">14. Stats for 2015\u20132020 show that 80% of bird species in India are in decline.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(State of India\u2019s Birds, 2020)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Research for that period was done on 146 bird species in India, and out of those in decline, nearly 50% are declining much more seriously. Only a bit over 6% are stable, and 14% are growing in population.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Additionally, the same report shows that since 2000, out of 261 bird species, 52% have decreased in population. This includes 22% that decreased drastically.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='15-free-ranging-cats-in-china-kill-2-69%e2%80%935-52-billion-birds-per-year'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">15. Free-ranging cats in China kill 2.69\u20135.52 billion birds per year.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(ScienceDirect, 2021)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to the study from 2020, this number is only an estimate based on 2,187 questionnaire responses from cat owners in China.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, even if we focus on the lower number, the impact that cats have on the environment is quite significant. It\u2019s definitely one of the main <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">causes of bird deaths<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in China.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='16-in-australia-a-pet-cat-that-roams-kills-an-average-of-56-birds-per-year'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">16. In Australia, a pet cat that roams kills an average of 56 birds per year.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(PestSmart, 2022)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A feral cat in the bush, on the other hand, kills about 129 birds every year.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Overall, about 1.2 million birds are killed every year in Australia by cats, and 99% of those killed by feral cats in the bush are native species. Moreover, records show that of the recorded species hunted by cats, 71 are threatened at an either national or global level.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id='interesting-bird-facts'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Interesting <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bird Facts<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For the last section of this article, here are a few interesting facts about birds that you may find surprising.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='17-there-are-1-6-billion-house-sparrows-in-the-world'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">17. There are 1.6 billion House Sparrows in the world.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(PNAS, 2021)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unsurprisingly, House Sparrows are the most abundant wild birds in the world. According to <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">bird population data<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, they\u2019re followed by European Starlings (1.3 billion), Ring-billed Gulls (1.2 billion), and Barn Swallows (1.1 billion).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not many bird species are this abundant, though \u2014 1,180 species, or 12% of the analyzed 9,700, have fewer than 5,000 representatives.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='18-stresemanns-bristlefront-is-the-rarest-bird-in-the-world'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">18. Stresemann&#8217;s Bristlefront is the rarest bird in the world.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(American Bird Conservancy, 2022, American Bird Conservancy, 2019)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The last bird of this species was spotted in late 2019, before the pandemic. We couldn\u2019t find any update on the species, so it can\u2019t be said whether there are any individuals left today.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What led to this was the destruction of their habitat by people as well as natural disasters like drought and fires.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='19-according-to-hummingbird-statistics-the-oldest-hummingbird-in-the-wild-lived-to-be-12-years-and-2-months-old'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">19. According to <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hummingbird statistics<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the oldest Hummingbird in the wild lived to be 12 years and 2 months old.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Sciencing, 2019)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Often called \u201cmarvels of micro-engineering,\u201d Hummingbirds are known for their small size and incredible flying skills \u2014 they are <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/animals-facts\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the only birds that can fly backward<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Due to their fast metabolism, most of them only live a few years. However, they can live longer \u2014 in captivity, they&#8217;ve been known to live up to 14 years.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='20-dodo-went-extinct-less-than-200-years-from-its-discovery'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">20. Dodo went extinct less than 200 years from its discovery.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Britannica, 2022, BBC News, 2003)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From the moment it was discovered in 1507, it was last seen in 1662. Some sources claim it might have survived for a few decades longer, but all agree it was extinct before 1690.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s one of the most <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/endangered-species-statistics\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">well-known examples of human-caused extinctions<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2014 it disappeared due to being hunted, losing its habitat, and not being able to compete for food with animals that humans introduced.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id='faq'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">FAQ<\/span><\/h2>\n<h3 id='which-bird-has-the-highest-population'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Which bird has the highest population?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This probably won\u2019t come as a surprise \u2014 the most populous bird species is the Common Chicken. In 2000, there were 14.38 billion Chickens in the world, and that number grew to 23.7 billion in 2018.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Considering Chickens&#8217; versatility and the growing population of people, it\u2019s safe to say the number will keep increasing.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Bird Spot, 2021)<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='how-many-species-have-cats-made-extinct'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How many species have cats made extinct?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Since 1600, cats are estimated to have taken part in the disappearance of at least 40 bird, 21 mammal, and two reptile species. This equals 26% of the total extinctions of those species.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At the time of writing, cats are endangering at least 360 bird, mammal, and reptile species all around the world.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(PestSmart, 2022)<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='what-is-the-main-cause-of-the-reduction-in-bird-populations'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is the main cause of<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">reduction in bird populations?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The main cause is the lack of human responsibility. More precisely, this includes:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Loss of habitat<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The use of toxic pesticides<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Allowing cats to spend time outside unattended, as well as abandoning them<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Collisions with buildings, airplanes, windmills, cell phone towers, and powerlines<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Global warming<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What\u2019s also interesting is that some wetland species, like ducks and geese, have actually increased in population. The only reason for that is the concern for their decline that started about 100 years ago and led to the creation of organizations that protect them.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(CBS News, 2019)<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='what-is-the-effect-of-the-reduction-in-bird-populations'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is the effect of the reduction in bird populations?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The decline in bird population will eventually lead to the decline in plant species that depend on birds for pollination and seed dispersal.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Moreover, it may also lead to a higher risk of contagious diseases, as the population of scavengers that feed on decomposing animal bodies is declining too.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(PNAS, 2004)<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='can-birds-fly-in-the-dark'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Can birds fly in the dark<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yes, birds can fly in the dark. However, aside from nocturnal bird species, most birds only fly at night when disturbed and looking for another sleeping spot. They sleep with half of their brain active, which allows them to rest and stay alert at the same time.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another possible context includes nighttime migration \u2014 Sparrows and Thrushes, for example, prefer to migrate at night, as it\u2019s much safer.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Audubon California, 2012, Birding Outdoors, 2022)<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id='conclusion'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Conclusion<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you love being woken up by chirps of birds under your window, or if you simply enjoy seeing birds in the sky, the stats we listed must sound concerning. And they are \u2014 if the trend of decline continues at this pace, our lives will inevitably change.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There isn\u2019t much an average person can do, but you can appreciate the feathery friends around your home, not let your cat harm any (if you have one), and spread awareness of this issue.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sources<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/2018-global-report-40-of-worlds-birds-are-in-decline\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">AllAboutBirds<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/abcbirds.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/Loss_et_al._2013-Impacts_Outdoor_Cats.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">American Bird Conservancy<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/abcbirds.org\/bird\/stresemanns-bristlefront\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">American Bird Conservancy<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/abcbirds.org\/article\/hope-lone-female-stresemanns-bristlefront-re-sighted-in-brazil\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">American Bird Conservancy<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ca.audubon.org\/news\/how-do-birds-sleep\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Audubon California<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"http:\/\/news.bbc.co.uk\/2\/hi\/science\/nature\/3281323.stm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">BBC News<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.birdspot.co.uk\/bird-brain\/what-is-the-most-common-bird-in-the-world\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bird Spot<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/birdingoutdoors.com\/do-birds-fly-at-night-a-complete-answer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Birding Outdoors<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bostonherald.com\/2020\/04\/23\/bird-bath-a-delightful-addition-to-any-backyard\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Boston Herald<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/animal\/dodo-extinct-bird\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Britannica<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/nature-up-close-the-massive-decline-of-bird-populations\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CBS News<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/biologicaldiversity.org\/w\/news\/press-releases\/epa-neonicotinoid-pesticides-harm-vast-majority-of-all-endangered-species-2021-08-26\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Center for Biological Diversity<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/today.duke.edu\/2006\/07\/nobirds.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Duke Today<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.faa.gov\/airports\/airport_safety\/wildlife\/faq\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">FAA<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalgeographic.com\/environment\/article\/widely-used-pesticide-makes-birds-lose-weight\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">National Geographic<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ourworldindata.org\/birds#how-many-bird-species-are-there\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">OurWorldInData<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pestsmart.org.au\/toolkit-resource\/impact-of-feral-cats-in-australia\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">PestSmart<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/journals.plos.org\/plosone\/article?id=10.1371\/journal.pone.0224164\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Plos One<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/journals.plos.org\/plosone\/article?id=10.1371\/journal.pone.0238034\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Plos One<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pnas.org\/content\/118\/21\/e2023170118\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">PNAS<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pnas.org\/doi\/10.1073\/pnas.0408049101#:~:text=Yet%20ongoing%20reductions%20in%20vertebrate,and%20the%20spread%20of%20disease\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">PNAS<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.science.org\/doi\/10.1126\/science.aaw1313\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Science<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S0006320720309873?via%3Dihub\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ScienceDirect<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sciencing.com\/lifespan-hummingbird-6395489.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sciencing<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/1gfQVQdR5YnICTcY2qTNuWH47SbsDFT3n\/view\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">State of India\u2019s Birds<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.birds.cornell.edu\/home\/bring-birds-back\/#:~:text=Nearly%203%20Billion%20Birds%20Gone%20Since%201970&amp;text=Forests%20alone%20have%20lost%201,North%20America&#039;s%20ecosystem%20is%20unraveling.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Cornell Lab of Ornithology<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/state-of-north-americas-birds-2016-more-than-one-third-in-need-of-conservation-action\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Cornell Lab of Ornithology<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\"mainEntity\":[{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Which bird has the highest population?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"This probably won\u2019t come as a surprise \u2014 the most populous bird species is the Common Chicken. In 2000, there were 14.38 billion Chickens in the world, and that number grew to 23.7 billion in 2018.\\nConsidering Chickens' versatility and the growing population of people, it\u2019s safe to say the number will keep increasing.\\n(Bird Spot, 2021)\\n\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How many species have cats made extinct?\\n\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Since 1600, cats are estimated to have taken part in the disappearance of at least 40 bird, 21 mammal, and two reptile species. This equals 26% of the total extinctions of those species.\\nAt the time of writing, cats are endangering at least 360 bird, mammal, and reptile species all around the world.\\n(PestSmart, 2022)\\n\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What is the main cause of the reduction in bird populations?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"The main cause is the lack of human responsibility. More precisely, this includes:\\nLoss of habitat\\nThe use of toxic pesticides\\nAllowing cats to spend time outside unattended, as well as abandoning them\\nCollisions with buildings, airplanes, windmills, cell phone towers, and powerlines\\nGlobal warming\\nWhat\u2019s also interesting is that some wetland species, like ducks and geese, have actually increased in population. The only reason for that is the concern for their decline that started about 100 years ago and led to the creation of organizations that protect them.\\n(CBS News, 2019)\\n\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What is the effect of the reduction in bird populations?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"The decline in bird population will eventually lead to the decline in plant species that depend on birds for pollination and seed dispersal. \\nMoreover, it may also lead to a higher risk of contagious diseases, as the population of scavengers that feed on decomposing animal bodies is declining too.\\n(PNAS, 2004)\\n\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Can birds fly in the dark?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Yes, birds can fly in the dark. However, aside from nocturnal bird species, most birds only fly at night when disturbed and looking for another sleeping spot. They sleep with half of their brain active, which allows them to rest and stay alert at the same time.\\nAnother possible context includes nighttime migration \u2014 Sparrows and Thrushes, for example, prefer to migrate at night, as it\u2019s much safer.\\n(Audubon California, 2012, Birding Outdoors, 2022)\\n\"}}]}<\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Stats say that we&#8217;re experiencing a worldwide bird population decline. If you\u2019re interested in the numbers and reasons behind this, keep reading. [&#8230;]<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"btn btn-secondary understrap-read-more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/bird-population-decline\/\">Read More&#8230;<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> from 20 Awareness-Raising Bird Population Decline Stats for 2024<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":11079,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11,12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11077","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","category-stats-and-facts"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11077","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/22"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11077"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11077\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11079"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11077"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11077"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11077"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}