The 2011 State of the Birds Report shows both positive and negative trends for Massachusetts, with some conservation success stories and some species rapidly disappearing.
Forest, urban and suburban bird populations are generally on the rise but there is concern over the decline of some previously common species, including blue Jays, song sparrows and Baltimore orioles. These birds are occupying their traditional range but population trends are downward, increasingly so since 1989.
On the positive side, red-bellied woodpeckers, Carolina wrens, great blue herons and wild turkeys are being seen in greater numbers and in more areas, according to the latest survey results.
Multiple Sources Used to Evaluate Bird Populations in Massachusetts
Many sources of information are used in creating the State of the Birds Report:
- The Christmas Bird Count
- The Massachusetts Breeding Bird Atlas
- The North American Breeding Bird Survey
- The Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences Bird Banding Records
- Mass Audubon’s Coastal Waterbird Program Surveys
- Hawk Migration Association of North America’s Raptor Population Index
- Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife surveys
- Data collected by NOAA at Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary
In some instances, the Christmas Bird Count and the Massachusetts Breeding Bird Atlas for example, data from previous surveys can be compared with the latest survey results to give a long term picture of declines or increases in bird populations. A team from Mass Audubon reviews the data and makes recommendations for future actions to conserve the state’s bird populations, which are included in the report.
The 2011 State of the Birds Report Highlights Species of Concern
While the increases in some bird species are cause for celebration, other results are worrying. Species like the broad-winged hawk have been dubbed “whisperers” as one survey (the Massachusetts Breeding Bird Atlas) classifies them as stable but the North American Breeding Bird Survey finds them in a decline which, should it ‘quietly’ continue, will result in the species becoming rare.
The decline of the American kestrel highlights the increasing complexity of factors resulting in species’ disappearing. West Nile Virus had a major impact on the species ten years ago and pesticide use is likely affecting their prey base. Loss of habitat– both grassland for hunting and tree cavities for nesting–is also thought to be a factor, as is the exponential growth of Cooper’s hawk, a potential predator of kestrels. What is not known is how changes to migratory stopovers and winter habitat are affecting the species.
Other species experiencing significant declines include the Eastern meadowlark, American black duck, brown thrasher.
Recommendations For Conserving Birds and Habitat in Massachusetts
Based on those results, Mass Audubon recommends actively managing habitat for grassland and shrubland bird species. Their Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary has been utilizing management intensive grazing by local farm animals as an environmentally sound method of creating healthy grass and scrub habitat. The report also cites the need to protect and manage wetlands, particularly coastal marshlands, to ensure breeding habitat for many of the salt marsh and coastal bird populations.
More research is needed to understand the decline in ground nesting species and aerial insectivores. The role of climate change and toxic chemicals in bird population alterations also needs further study. Mass Audubon’s Important Bird Area designation helps raise awareness of places which provide essential habitat for breeding, wintering or migrating birds in the state. Ensuring that these areas are protected and/or improved is also important to bird conservation in Massachusetts.
Information found in the State of the Birds Report allows interested parties to compare findings from a variety of sources in order to determine how best to protect bird species in decline.
Dawn M. Smith - A vet nurse, Dawn has worked in wildlife rehabilitation and conservation around the world in addition to her veterinary hospital ...
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