[TN-Bird] news release from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Southeast Region

I have just received a copy of this federal news release concerning bird
populations:

Sabin Thompson
Kingston Springs, Tennessee


> ********************************************************************
> This is a News Release from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
Southeast 
> Region.  While you can't reply to this message, you can call me at
(404) 
> 679-7291, or send me a separate e-mail to:   tom_mackenzie@xxxxxxxx
>
>      Thanks,  Tom MacKenzie, Chief, Media Relations
> *******************************************************************
>
>
> March 19, 2009
>
>
>     Secretary Salazar Releases Study Showing Widespread Declines in
Bird
>                                 Populations,
>               Highlights Role of Partnerships in Conservation
>
>   Washington, D.C. - Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today
released
>   the first ever comprehensive report on bird populations in the
United
>   States, showing that nearly a third of the nation's 800 bird species
are
>   endangered, threatened or in significant decline due to habitat
loss,
>   invasive species, and other threats.
>
>   At the same time, the report highlights examples, including many
species
>   of waterfowl, where habitat restoration and conservation have
reversed
>   previous declines, offering hope that it is not too late to take
action
>   to save declining populations.
>
>   "Just as they were when Rachel Carson published Silent Springnearly
50
>   years ago, birds today are a bellwether of the health of land, water
and
>   ecosystems," Salazar said. "From shorebirds in New England to
warblers
>   in Michigan to songbirds in Hawaii, we are seeing disturbing
downward
>   population trends that should set off environmental alarm bells. We
must
>   work together now to ensure we never hear the deafening silence in
our
>   forests, fields and backyards that Rachel Carson warned us about."
>
>   The report, The U.S. State of the Birds, synthesizes data from three
>   long-running bird censuses conducted by thousands of citizen
scientists
>   and professional biologists.
>
>   In particular, it calls attention to the crisis in Hawaii, where
more
>   birds are in danger of extinction than anywhere else in the United
>   States. In addition, the report indicates a 40 percent decline in
>   grassland birds over the past 40 years, a 30 percent decline in
birds of
>   aridlands, and high concern for many coastal shorebirds.
Furthermore, 39
>   percent of species dependent on U.S. oceans have declined.
>
>   However, the report also reveals convincing evidence that birds can
>   respond quickly and positively to conservation action. The data show
>   dramatic increases in many wetland birds such as pelicans, herons,
>   egrets, osprey, and ducks, a testament to numerous cooperative
>   conservation partnerships that have resulted in protection,
enhancement
>   and management of more than 30 million wetland acres.
>
>   "These results emphasize that investment in wetlands conservation
has
>   paid huge dividends," said Kenneth Rosenberg, director of
Conservation
>   Science at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. "Now we need to invest
>   similarly in other neglected habitats where birds are undergoing the
>   steepest declines."
>
>   "Habitats such as those in Hawaii are on the verge of losing entire
>   suites of unique bird species," said Dr. David Pashley, American
Bird
>   Conservancy's Vice President for Conservation Programs. "In addition
to
>   habitat loss, birds also face many other man-made threats such as
>   pesticides, predation by cats, and collisions with windows, towers
and
>   buildings. By solving these challenges we can preserve a growing
>   economic engine - the popular pastime of birdwatching that involves
>   millions of Americans - and improve our quality of life."
>
>   "While some bird species are holding their own, many once common
species
>   are declining sharply in population. Habitat availability and
quality is
>   the key to healthy, thriving bird populations," said Dave Mehlman of
The
>   Nature Conservancy.
>
>   Surveys conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S.
>   Geological Survey, including the annual Breeding Bird Survey,
combined
>   with data gathered through volunteer citizen science program such as
the
>   National Audubon Society's Christmas Bird Count, show once abundant
>   birds such as the northern bobwhite and marbled murrelet are
declining
>   significantly. The possibility of extinction also remains a cold
reality
>   for many endangered birds.
>
>   "Citizen science plays a critical role in monitoring and
understanding
>   the threats to these birds and their habitats, and only citizen
>   involvement can help address them," said National Audubon Society's
Bird
>   Conservation Director, Greg Butcher. "Conservation action can only
make
>   a real difference when concerned people support the kind of vital
>   habitat restoration and protection measures this report explores."
>
>   Birds are beautiful, as well as economically important and a
priceless
>   part of America's natural heritage. Birds are also highly sensitive
to
>   environmental pollution and climate change, making them critical
>   indicators of the health of the environment on which we all depend.
>
>   The United States is home to a tremendous diversity of native birds,
>   with more than 800 species inhabiting terrestrial, coastal, and
ocean
>   habitats, including Hawaii. Among these species, 67 are
Federally-listed
>   as endangered or threatened. In addition, more than 184 species are
>   designated as species of conservation concern due to a small
>   distribution, high-level of threats, or declining populations.
>
>   The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service coordinated creation of the new
>   report as part of the U.S. North American Bird Conservation
Initiative,
>   which includes partners from American Bird Conservancy, the
Association
>   of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Klamath
Bird
>   Observatory, National Audubon Society, The Nature Conservancy and
the
>   U.S. Geological Survey.
>
>   The report is available at http://www.stateofthebirds.org.
>
>   Contacts:
>   Hugh Vickery (DOI), (202) 501-4633
>   U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Alicia King,
703-358-2522/571-214-3117,
>   Alicia_F_King@xxxxxxx
>   U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Vanessa Kauffman, 703-358-2138,
>   Vanessa_kauffman@xxxxxxx
>   American Bird Conservancy: Steve Holmer, 202-234-7181,
>   sholmer@xxxxxxxxxxxx 3
>      Cornell Lab of Ornithology: Pat Leonard, Cornell Lab of
Ornithology,
> 607-254-2137, pel27@xxxxxxxxxxx
>      National Audubon Society: Nancy Severance, 212-979-3124,
> nseverance@xxxxxxxxxxx
>      The Nature Conservancy: Blythe Thomas, 703-841-8782,
bthomas@xxxxxxx
>      Klamath Bird Observatory: Ashley Dayer, 541-324-0281,
> aad@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>
>
> *******************************************************************
> 

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