What Birds Can Tell Us…
| Birds are everywhere, all around us, across the world, and present in almost every ecosystem.
When viewing birds, many of us appreciate them for their beauty, grace of flight, and joyous songs. If we look a bit deeper, we can learn much more about the health of the systems they are a part of. Birds are an integral link in food chains. Most get their food from plants, while providing pollination and seed dispersal services in return. Others eat amphibains, mammals, and insects and play a crucial role in pest management. In the web of life, all living things are interconnected, and even the smallest change in one life form, can disrupt the entire structure. Changes in a bird population are often the first indication of a larger environmental problem. One of the best-known examples of this is when Rachel Carson shared her observations of bird species in decline due to the use of DDT in her book “Silent Spring.” Birds were the first group of animals to signal negative consequences from the use of this pesticide. By tuning into birds, we can further our understanding of the systems that support all life on earth. Studying birds and bird populations can tell us a great deal about the impacts of pollution, climate change, and land management. The Institute for Bird Populations (IBP) “enables science-based conservation of species and habitats by studying the abundance, demography, and ecology of birds and other wildlife. We collaborate locally, nationally, and globally with government agencies, universities, and NGOs to assess the effects of climate change, land management actions, and other ecological stressors on bird populations, and prescribe practical solutions to conservation challenges.” The next presenter in our virtual learning series is Mandy Holmgren an IBP biologist who runs the monitoring programs in Pacific Northwest National Parks. She will give an overview of the monitoring program, and discuss some of their findings, results, and species of interest. You don’t want to miss this! Virtual Learning: Monitoring Birds (What birds can tell us about our environment) August 7 6pm |