State of the Birds

Several scientific organizations and federal agencies including the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the National Audubon Society, the American Bird Conservancy and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have released a ground-breaking report, the 2009 State of the Birds. In this comprehensive report, bird populations in a variety of climates are discussed as well as endangered species, challenges to bird conservation and tips for what birders and other “citizen scientists” can do to help bird populations.

This report dramatically highlights the importance of bird conservation with startling statistics such as the fact that one-third of all bird species in the United States are found in Hawai’i, including 113 species unique to the islands that are “under siege” from invasive species, disease and development.

Do you know the state of your backyard birds? Read the report to learn more.

'I'iwi, Hawai'i
Photo © Donald Metzner