In the Project Upland Podcast episode “The Birds Aren’t Alright,” hosts Gabby Zaldumbide and A.J. DeRosa speak with Dr. Michael Brasher, senior waterfowl scientist at Ducks Unlimited and co-chair of the State of the Birds Report Science Committee, to uncover what the latest data reveal about bird population trends—and what is at stake if federal funding for avian research disappears.

Bird species have been monitored for more than a century, but if federal funding for avian research is lost, what else will vanish with it? The conversation traces the roots of modern bird monitoring back to the first Christmas Bird Count in 1900 and explains how decades of citizen science, state surveys, and federal efforts now feed into one of the most important bird conservation reports of our time. Dr. Brasher shares how long-term data collection reveals population changes in ducks, seabirds, upland game birds, and more, underscoring that the greatest driver of decline is widespread habitat loss.

The discussion highlights the concept of “tipping point species”—birds that have lost more than 50 percent of their population over the last 50 years, including iconic game birds such as the greater sage-grouse and the lesser prairie-chicken. The hosts emphasize both the hope and urgency contained in the report: citizen science tools like eBird empower everyday birders to contribute critical data, while conservation policies such as the Duck Stamp Program have proven their value in reversing declines. Yet the episode also warns of looming threats, including deep funding cuts to federal conservation programs and the risk of losing the scientific foundation for hunting regulations. Ultimately, the conversation serves as a call to action for hunters, birders, and citizens alike to participate in monitoring, advocacy, and habitat conservation to ensure the future of North America’s birds.

Listen to past episodes here: Project Upland Podcast

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