AssetID: 54610001
Headline: UNCAPTIONED: Once-Thriving Ducks Now in Decline as US Bird Populations Plummet
Caption: Once-Thriving Ducks Now in Decline as US Bird Populations Plummet. A new report reveals at least 112 North American bird species have lost over half their populations in the last 50 years. Waterfowl, once thriving amid broader bird declines, are now seeing significant population drops across the U.S. Dabbling and diving duck populations have fallen sharply due to habitat loss and drought in the Great Plains’ wetlands. The overall waterfowl population has declined by a fifth in the past decade, reversing decades of growth. Species hit hardest include Allen’s hummingbirds, Florida scrub jays, golden-cheeked warblers, tricolored blackbirds, and yellow-billed magpies. Birds reliant on grasslands, such as the Bobolink, face the greatest risk due to rapid habitat loss. The findings were produced by top institutions including Cornell University, Ducks Unlimited, and the National Audubon Society. Bird declines highlight the deteriorating state of forests, grasslands, and coastal habitats, researchers warn. One-third of the bird species studied are now considered high or moderate conservation concerns. Experts stress that targeted conservation can reverse declines, as seen with bald eagles and ospreys—if action is taken now. Instructions: THIS VIDEO MUST NOT BE EDITED FOR LENGTH TO COMBINE WITH OTHER CONTENT
Keywords: Natural World,North American bird species,112 species decline,50-year population loss,waterfowl decline,dabbling ducks,diving ducks,habitat loss,Great Plains drought,wetlands degradation,20% drop in waterfowl,Allen’s hummingbirds,Florida scrub jays,golden-cheeked warblers,tricolored blackbirds,yellow-billed magpies,Bobolink,grassland birds,Cornell University,Ducks Unlimited,National Audubon Society,bird habitat loss,forest deterioration,coastal habitat loss,conservation concerns,targeted conservation,bald eagle recovery,osprey comeback,wildlife,birds,ecology,environment,biodiversity,conservation,habitat protection,climate change,species decline,endangered species,environmental report,ornithology,nature preservation,ecosystems,scientific research,environmental action
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