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Where Are All the Birds ~ Caring for Creation by Mary Christopher
A scientific look at what’s happening in the U.S. And, why it matters for farms, beekeepers, and all of us who Care about Creation.
The short story in simple words …
Across the United States, we’ve been losing birds—quietly, steadily, and in very large numbers. The best nationwide studies show that North America has lost about 3 billion birds since 1970. That big number comes from radar, long-running bird counts, and other careful science. It’s sobering, but it also gives us a clear signal: when birds disappear, it usually means the whole web of life—the insects, wildflowers, soils, and streams that support them—is coming apart. That’s what scientists mean by declining biodiversity. Science+1
In the past 12 years, newer “state of the birds” checkups and federal science updates have confirmed that the slide is still happening. Grassland and arid-land birds—think of meadowlarks, bobolinks, and other open-country species—are among the hardest hit, with losses above 40% since 1970 and continuing declines reported in 2025. Audubon+2NABCI+2
Below is a simple walk-through of what’s driving the drop, why it signals a wider loss of life, and how it connects to farming, beekeeping, and pollinators.
What’s driving bird declines right now?
When prairies turn into uniform crop fields, when fence-rows and hedgerows are cleared, and when lots of small wetlands are drained, birds lose their nesting and feeding grounds. The U.S. Geological Survey notes that North American grasslands are among the most imperiled habitats, and grassland birds have declined more than any other group. If there’s no place to nest and no nearby insects to eat, birds simply can’t raise young. U.S. Geological Survey
Modern insecticides are designed to be powerful. A U.S. study in the last decade found that increases in neonicotinoid use were followed by measurable reductions in bird diversity, especially among grassland and insect-eating birds. Even when the chemicals don’t poison birds directly, they can sharply reduce the insects birds depend on to feed their young. That means quieter hedgerows and fewer fledglings leaving the nest. NYC Bird Alliance
Hundreds of millions of migrating birds die each year by hitting glass, many after being drawn off course by bright city lights at night. Estimates commonly range from hundreds of millions to around a billion birds in the U.S. each year—an enormous toll that spikes during spring and fall migration. The good news: “lights-out” programs and bird-friendly glass can make a real difference. Lights Out Heartland+2Illinois Newsroom+2
Heat waves, late freezes, droughts, floods—these can shuffle the seasonal deck. Plants may bloom earlier or later; insects may peak at the “wrong” time; nests may be flooded or baked. Large-scale biodiversity assessments warn that these combined pressures are pushing many species toward decline, with pollinators flagged as a special concern (more on that below). IPBES+1
Why bird loss equals biodiversity loss …
Birds are messengers. When they vanish, it tells us that the whole living community is under stress: native plants are fewer; insect life is thinner; soils are less healthy; water is more polluted; and the timing of seasons is off-kilter. Global biodiversity reviews over the past decade warn that nature’s “everyday services”—pollination, pest control, clean water—are being eroded. Birds sit right in the middle of those services, and their decline is a red flag that the system is fraying. IPBES+1
Think of a meadow in June. If the wildflowers are sparse and the insect chorus is quiet, swallows and bluebirds won’t find enough to eat. Fewer birds means more crop pests survive, which can push farms toward still more pesticides—creating a loop that hurts the wider community of life. That’s biodiversity loss in everyday terms: fewer kinds of plants and animals, fewer helpful relationships, and a weaker, more brittle system.
Why this matters for farmers, their farms, and their families !!!
Birds are natural pest control.
On many crops, birds help keep caterpillars, beetles, and other pests in check. A 2023 peer-reviewed study found that strengthening bird communities near brassica and cucurbit fields improved biological pest control, especially on farms that kept patches of native vegetation. Farmers have long known this in practical ways: barns swallows patrolling a field, or bluebirds gleaning caterpillars from orchard rows. When bird numbers fall, growers often face more pest pressure and higher costs. ScienceDirect+1
When Birds decline, pesticide use spirals upward.
As birds and beneficial insects shrink, farms can slide into a cycle of more spraying to chase more pests, which thins the food web even further. Research in the U.S. has linked heavier use of neonicotinoids to declines in bird biodiversity, especially for the very species that normally help with insects. That’s not a healthy long-term balance for farm budgets—or for the land. NYC Bird Alliance
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By Mary ChristopherA scientific look at what’s happening in the U.S. And, why it matters for farms, beekeepers, and all of us who Care about Creation.
The short story in simple words …
Across the United States, we’ve been losing birds—quietly, steadily, and in very large numbers. The best nationwide studies show that North America has lost about 3 billion birds since 1970. That big number comes from radar, long-running bird counts, and other careful science. It’s sobering, but it also gives us a clear signal: when birds disappear, it usually means the whole web of life—the insects, wildflowers, soils, and streams that support them—is coming apart. That’s what scientists mean by declining biodiversity. Science+1
In the past 12 years, newer “state of the birds” checkups and federal science updates have confirmed that the slide is still happening. Grassland and arid-land birds—think of meadowlarks, bobolinks, and other open-country species—are among the hardest hit, with losses above 40% since 1970 and continuing declines reported in 2025. Audubon+2NABCI+2
Below is a simple walk-through of what’s driving the drop, why it signals a wider loss of life, and how it connects to farming, beekeeping, and pollinators.
What’s driving bird declines right now?
When prairies turn into uniform crop fields, when fence-rows and hedgerows are cleared, and when lots of small wetlands are drained, birds lose their nesting and feeding grounds. The U.S. Geological Survey notes that North American grasslands are among the most imperiled habitats, and grassland birds have declined more than any other group. If there’s no place to nest and no nearby insects to eat, birds simply can’t raise young. U.S. Geological Survey
Modern insecticides are designed to be powerful. A U.S. study in the last decade found that increases in neonicotinoid use were followed by measurable reductions in bird diversity, especially among grassland and insect-eating birds. Even when the chemicals don’t poison birds directly, they can sharply reduce the insects birds depend on to feed their young. That means quieter hedgerows and fewer fledglings leaving the nest. NYC Bird Alliance
Hundreds of millions of migrating birds die each year by hitting glass, many after being drawn off course by bright city lights at night. Estimates commonly range from hundreds of millions to around a billion birds in the U.S. each year—an enormous toll that spikes during spring and fall migration. The good news: “lights-out” programs and bird-friendly glass can make a real difference. Lights Out Heartland+2Illinois Newsroom+2
Heat waves, late freezes, droughts, floods—these can shuffle the seasonal deck. Plants may bloom earlier or later; insects may peak at the “wrong” time; nests may be flooded or baked. Large-scale biodiversity assessments warn that these combined pressures are pushing many species toward decline, with pollinators flagged as a special concern (more on that below). IPBES+1
Why bird loss equals biodiversity loss …
Birds are messengers. When they vanish, it tells us that the whole living community is under stress: native plants are fewer; insect life is thinner; soils are less healthy; water is more polluted; and the timing of seasons is off-kilter. Global biodiversity reviews over the past decade warn that nature’s “everyday services”—pollination, pest control, clean water—are being eroded. Birds sit right in the middle of those services, and their decline is a red flag that the system is fraying. IPBES+1
Think of a meadow in June. If the wildflowers are sparse and the insect chorus is quiet, swallows and bluebirds won’t find enough to eat. Fewer birds means more crop pests survive, which can push farms toward still more pesticides—creating a loop that hurts the wider community of life. That’s biodiversity loss in everyday terms: fewer kinds of plants and animals, fewer helpful relationships, and a weaker, more brittle system.
Why this matters for farmers, their farms, and their families !!!
Birds are natural pest control.
On many crops, birds help keep caterpillars, beetles, and other pests in check. A 2023 peer-reviewed study found that strengthening bird communities near brassica and cucurbit fields improved biological pest control, especially on farms that kept patches of native vegetation. Farmers have long known this in practical ways: barns swallows patrolling a field, or bluebirds gleaning caterpillars from orchard rows. When bird numbers fall, growers often face more pest pressure and higher costs. ScienceDirect+1
When Birds decline, pesticide use spirals upward.
As birds and beneficial insects shrink, farms can slide into a cycle of more spraying to chase more pests, which thins the food web even further. Research in the U.S. has linked heavier use of neonicotinoids to declines in bird biodiversity, especially for the very species that normally help with insects. That’s not a healthy long-term balance for farm budgets—or for the land. NYC Bird Alliance