In the fall of 2019, startling headlines announced that North America had lost nearly one-third of its bird population over the previous fifty years. The news shocked bird lovers and conservationists alike and raised an urgent question: What is happening to our birds?
Seeking answers, journalists and avid birders Anders and Beverly Gyllenhaal set out across the United States in their Airstream trailer. Their journey became the basis for A Wing and a Prayer, a compelling exploration of the state of North America's bird populations. Along the way, they met with scientists, researchers, conservation organizations, government agencies, and wildlife experts to better understand the causes of bird declines, examine ongoing conservation efforts, and explore reasons for hope.
The authors begin by revisiting the landmark 2019 study published in Science that generated those alarming headlines. The study originated from a deceptively simple question posed at a gathering of leading ornithologists at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in Ithaca, New York, in 2017: “Exactly how many birds have we lost?” While many experts suspected significant declines, no one could provide a definitive answer because no comprehensive analysis had ever been conducted.
To answer that question, researchers compiled population estimates for 529 North American bird species using decades of data. They combined standardized bird surveys dating back to the mid-1960s with observations collected by thousands of citizen scientists participating in annual bird counts. The team then incorporated more than a decade of weather-radar data from 143 stations across the United States, allowing them to estimate the number of birds moving across the continent.
When all the data were analyzed and compared, the results stunned even the researchers. After extensive verification, they concluded that North America had lost nearly three billion birds since 1970.
The losses were widespread. Grassland birds experienced the steepest decline, dropping by more than 50 percent—roughly 750 million birds. Forest birds declined by nearly one-third, representing a loss of approximately 500 million birds. Perhaps most surprising was that many of the losses occurred among once-common backyard species, including sparrows, blackbirds, finches, and starlings.
Bird populations naturally experience high mortality rates. Depending on the species, as many as 90 percent of chicks fail to survive to adulthood. Yet bird populations had remained relatively stable for decades because successful breeding seasons replenished those losses. The disappearance of three billion birds represents a profound reduction from what had long been a breeding population of roughly ten billion birds across North America.
What is driving these declines? The causes vary by species and habitat, but several factors repeatedly emerge. Rising sea levels are flooding nesting areas for coastal birds. Collisions with glass-covered buildings, power lines, and vehicles kill more than a billion birds annually. Outdoor cats are estimated to kill billions of birds each year in the United States and Canada. Habitat loss, climate change, and environmental degradation further compound these threats.
The authors also traveled to Hawaii, where the crisis is even more severe. Nearly 100 of Hawaii's 140 native bird species have already disappeared. Because of the islands' geographic isolation, many Hawaiian birds evolved without significant predators or diseases. The arrival of humans brought rats, cats, mongoose, mosquitoes carrying avian malaria, feral pigs, and other invasive species that devastated native bird populations by preying on adults, eggs, and nestlings while destroying critical habitat.
Despite these sobering realities, the book also highlights remarkable conservation successes. Species such as the Bald Eagle, Osprey, Whooping Crane, and California Condor have rebounded thanks to focused conservation efforts. Yet the authors emphasize that there is no single solution to the bird crisis. Every species has its own ecological story, unique challenges, and specific conservation needs.
Much of today's conservation attention is understandably directed toward species on the brink of extinction. However, the dramatic declines among common backyard birds remain less understood and often receive less attention. At the same time, conservation organizations face increasing demands and limited resources as they work to protect not only birds but wildlife as a whole.
Throughout the book, the authors showcase innovative conservation projects, emerging technologies, and dedicated individuals working to reverse these trends. They conclude with practical suggestions for how readers can contribute to bird conservation in their own communities.
A Wing and a Prayer is an informative, thought-provoking, and ultimately hopeful book. While it confronts the serious challenges facing North America's birds, it also demonstrates that conservation efforts can make a difference. For anyone who enjoys birds or cares about the health of our natural world, it is a highly recommended read.
Resource: 3billionbirds.org