New reports on US bird conditions have urgent warnings. Bird populations in almost all habitats are declining, with about a third of US bird species needing conservation effects.
Of the 718 US bird species, 229 are currently categorized as high or moderate conservation concerns, according to the 2025 State of the Birds Report, produced by a consortium of scientific and conservation organizations led by the North American bird conservation initiative. This includes 112 “tumbling points” species. This is a species that has lost more than half its population in the last 50 years. Some people, including Allen’s hummingbirds, tricolor blackbirds and salt marsh sparrows, are at extreme risk without immediate intervention, the report said Thursday.
The US grassland bird population has declined 43% since 1970, claiming it will cost row-crop production, drought and habitat loss. Arid land birds fell by 41% over the same period due to droughts, wildfires and invasive species. Even forest birds facing habitat degradation due to fire control and industrial timber practices have seen widespread declines. Waterfowl, once considered a conservation success, has fallen 20% since 2014 due to losses in wetlands and grasslands.
The survey results continue to be on a downward trend. A 2019 study published in the academic journal Science found that North America has lost 3 billion birds in the last 50 years.
“The 2025 Birds report shows that these losses continue and are declining among several bird trend indicators,” the new report states. “In particular, duck populations – a bright spot for past bird reports, with a significant increase since 1970, but it has been heading down in recent years.”
Parents have previously warned that bird populations are falling sharply due to habitat loss and climate change, and they are even more wary after the U.S. Department of Interior last month halted legal opinions from the Biden administration, which accidentally killed businesses by accidentally killing birds through industrial activities such as oil and gas drilling, wind energy production and construction.
Birds play an important role in maintaining a healthy ecosystem. It will help control pests, distribute seeds, spread plants, and support crop yields and biodiversity, says Amandarodwald, a faculty member at the Cornell Lab at the Cornell Research Center for Ornithology.
The decline in bird populations indicates a greater environmental problem, experts say.
“There’s a really long history and a lot of evidence that birds can be a great indicator of environmental conditions,” Rodwald told CBS News. “We share the same environment as birds. If we’re not healthy about our population, we’re probably not healthy either.”
Beyond their ecological role, birds offer great economic and mental health benefits. Birdwatching has donated $279 billion to the US economy, supporting 1.4 million jobs, according to the report. Meeting birds is also associated with reduced stress and improved mental well-being, further highlighting its importance.
Experts emphasize that conservation efforts can be successful when properly funded. Almost wiped out by the pesticide DDT, the bald eagle was rebounded thanks to coordination effort. in Decemberthe species has even gained bipartisan recognition as the official US bird.
Strategic habitat conservation efforts such as conservation ranches, coastal restoration and seabird relocation have already made a difference in some regions.
The new report calls for policies that promote increased investment in conservation programs, stronger habitat protection and sustainable land management. Without quick action, scientists warn that the next State of the Birds Report could even bring Graver news.
“Birds unite us across the hemisphere and the political spectrum,” said Marshall Johnson, chief conservation officer of the National Audubon Association. “There should be no hesitation in moving to protect them today and in the future.”
