Since 1967 the average population of the common birds in steepest decline has fallen by 68 percent; some individual species nose-dived as much as 80 percent. All 20 birds on the national Common Birds in Decline list lost at least half their populations in just four decades. The findings point to serious problems with both local habitats and national environmental trends. Read more about declining bird populations at http://www.audubon.org/bird/stateofthebirds/CBID.

Is there anything we can do? The Audubon Society says "yes" and provides some specific ways to help including protecting local habitat, promoting sound agricultural policy, supporting sustainable forests, protecting wetlands, fighting global warming, and combating invasive species. To learn more, go to audubon.org.

As a side note, I know there are a lot of cat lovers who read this blog and the National Audubon Society has been outspoken against feral cats. So I researched their website looking for their latest position on feral cats and found the following, "...NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Directors of the National Audubon Society recognizes the science-based conclusions of the adverse impact of feral and free-ranging domestic cats on birds and other wildlife; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Audubon Society will convey such science-based conclusions to its chapters so that they, if they so wish, will be in a position to advocate that local and state wildlife agencies, public health organizations and legislative bodies restrict and regulate the maintenance and movement of feral and free-ranging domestic cats out-of-doors and to support programs to vaccinate cats and to neuter or spay cats."