As spring unfolds in Oregon, birders eagerly anticipate the arrival of vibrant migratory birds.
However, this year, many have noted an alarming shortage of avian visitors.
Brodie Cass Talbott, an engagement manager with the Bird Alliance of Oregon, leads birdwatching walks around Portland and expressed concern, stating, “They just weren’t there.”
During a typical birdsong walk on Mount Tabor, participants would regularly spot several Nashville warblers, but this year yielded none.
To gain insight into the situation, Cass Talbott examined national data provided by researchers, including those from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
The lab operates BirdCast, a platform that employs weather radar to monitor bird migration patterns, alongside eBird, a citizen science initiative enabling birders to log their sightings.
The findings corroborate the suspicions of local birders: there has been a significant decline in bird migration numbers through Oregon this spring.
Data reveals that 43 million birds migrated through the state between April and May, which is a staggering 47% decrease compared to the same period last year.
Such a decline in numbers is not unique to Oregon; across the United States, many bird species are grappling with challenges tied to habitat loss due to human expansion into crucial environments like forests, prairies, and wetlands.
In addition, factors such as climate change are exacerbating this issue, with the National Audubon Society reporting that around two-thirds of North American bird species face heightened risks of extinction as global temperatures rise.
While the trend of declining migratory birds has been witnessed over the years, the dramatic figures from this spring indicate that recent adverse events have significantly impacted these populations.
Colby Neuman, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Portland and an enthusiastic birdwatcher, points to unprecedented weather patterns in the southwestern states where many of Oregon’s migratory birds winter.
He noted that these areas experienced some of the driest winters on record, creating conditions that hinder the survival of birds relying on these habitats.
For instance, Phoenix, Arizona, observed its third driest winter since 1895, while San Diego recorded its second driest.
Neuman suspects that similar conditions prevailed in Mexican states as well.
He explained, “If they don’t get those rains, then nothing’s growing come springtime when then the birds are moving through that region.”
Such a lack of rainfall means that migrating birds may not find the essential plants and insects they need during their arduous journeys northward.
Neuman remains hopeful that this situation is an anomaly and that migrating bird populations will recover next year.
He cautioned that we often underestimate the reliance of birds on seasonal weather patterns.
Despite these challenges, there are measures Oregonians can take to support struggling bird species regardless of weather conditions.
Cass Talbott suggests that individual actions can significantly reduce dangers to birds, such as turning off lights during migration, keeping cats indoors, and planting native vegetation.
He emphasized that the current decline should serve as a rallying call for action rather than a cause for despair.
image source from：klcc
