Birds are disappearing in North America at alarming rate

Birds are disappearing from North America at an alarming rate.

It is becoming more difficult to spot a bird because over the last 50 years, the United States and Canada have lost nearly 30 percent of its bird populations. Pascagoula River Audubon Center Education Manager Katie Walsh Fetzer said, “I think the overall reason there is a decrease in migrating birds is due to habitat loss, habitat loss for either agricultural or development purposes.”

Walsh-Fetzer tells News 25 that we can help save the bird population by taking some pretty simple steps. “Plant more native plants. Lawns and pavements just don’t provide enough food and protection for our birds.”

Another way to help keep the bird population growing is to keep your feline friends indoors. “Try and keep your cats indoors. Cats are a large reason why so many birds have gone on the decline.”

With the bird population down by nearly three billion over the past half-century, Katie says it is important to start doing these things now. “I think it is very simple. If you save the birds, you can save the earth.”

If you would like to purchase some native plants the Pascagoula River Audubon Center has some for sale right now.