Bird census suggests decline in N.C. numbers

To find a superhighway on the Outer Banks, a person has only to look to the sky, where an estimated 200 species of birds fly overhead in a given year.

A new report, "The U.S. State of the Birds," the first comprehensive look at the nation's bird populations, shows that the numbers of many of those feathered long-distance travelers are declining.

"What it pointed out is there are some populations in trouble," said John Stanton, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regional migratory bird biologist. "Loss of habitat is, by far, the greatest threat to migratory birds."

Stanton, who has an office in Columbia in Tyrrell County, said that of the 800 migratory bird species in the United States, grassland birds have decreased 40 percent in the past 40 years; birds living in arid climates have declined 30 percent.

Synthesized from three long-running bird censuses conducted by biologists and private citizens, the report also revealed that 39 percent of species dependent on U.S. oceans have declined and that Hawaii has more birds in danger of extinction than anywhere else.

The report, released Thursday, was coordinated by the wildlife service as part of the U.S. North American Bird Conservation Initiative.

When the bird routes were coined "flyways" about 40 years ago, Stanton said, the term referred to the regular travel paths of waterfowl: ducks, geese and swans. But now, he said, it generally encompasses all birds who fly up the coastal plain of the Eastern seaboard.

Some cross only land, some fly the spine of the Appalachians, some fly over marshes, wetlands and beaches, and some fly offshore over the ocean. Some migrate more than 10,000 miles a year.

"If all birds took the same strategy, they'd all die off," Stanton said. "The competition would be so great."

By looking at the big picture of how birds are faring in what regions of the country, the report provides a way for the public to understand the increasing threats that bird populations face and the role conservation plays in their survival.

"People have always been fascinated by birds. They're colorful. They're musical. They're spiritual," Stanton said. "But more important, they're indicators of the health of the environment."

When looking specifically at the northeastern North Carolina region - which may not apply to the species nationally - declines have been seen in the Eastern meadow lark, Henslow's sparrow, gull bill tern, piping plover, black skimmer, American oystercatcher and cerulean warbler.

One bird Stanton has seen much less of locally is the Northern shrike, which likes to perch on barbed wire fences, where it impales food like grasshoppers to create a cache. "Birds are just fascinating," he said.

Success stories like the brown pelican and the bald eagle prove that concerted conservation efforts can work, if the public is aware and involved.

On the Outer Banks, development probably gets the biggest black eye because of habitat destruction, Stanton said, especially of the coastal shrub and maritime forest. Predation is also a huge problem.

The public could help, he said, by considering the impact on birds before a project is approved, by not letting pet cats roam outside, and by working together to help struggling bird populations recover.

"Boy, that would be nice," Stanton said, "if we, as citizens of this environment, can see beyond our face."

Catherine Kozak, (252) 441-1711, cate.kozak@pilotonline.com