One-Third of U.S. Birds Are Endangered

One-third of US birds are endangered, says conservation report

Energy production deriving from wind, ethanol and mountain-top coal mining contributing to steep drops in bird populations

Nearly one-third of US birds are endangered, threatened or in significant decline, according to a government conservation report.

It says the findings are "a warning signal of the failing health of our ecosystems" and reports that birds in Hawaii, the most bird-rich state, are "in crisis".

The authors say that energy production deriving from wind, ethanol and mountain-top coal mining is contributing to steep drops in bird populations.

The State of the Birds report chronicles a four-decade decline in many of the country's bird populations and provides many reasons for it, from suburban sprawl to the spread of exotic species to global warming.

In the last 40 years, populations of birds living on prairies, deserts and at sea have declined between 30-40%.

But in almost every case, energy production has also played a role.

March 20, 2009

For complete article:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/mar/20/america-endangered-birds