This, while somewhat expected by anyone paying attention to human devastation, is still really horrific. Though I knew things were already bad, I was not aware of this magnitude with respect to birds.

Up here in NW Washington, we are overwhelmed with Canada geese, who no longer seem to want to migrate north. Could it be that these geese, who seem to be eating all the time (and then excreting), are eating the foods that these other birds need to survive and thrive?

The problem is too many people and too few trees.

I don't know. Maybe its the type of trees. Everywhere you look its leyland pines, at least here on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Robins are prolific here. Maybe the birds are just moving around. How is this count done?

Here in East San Diego we notice many fewer bugs as we weed. We don't use any pesticides so what's going on? Also, the crow population is growing much larger. We hear them to the exclusion of the song birds. Are they pushing out the song birds?
Part of the problem may be that we have fewer good nesting trees in our neighborhood because when the trees get to be 30 - 40 years old in our development we have to remove them as they are too big for our lots.

Hi All,
It's like Audubon says...a direct result of the loss of habitat, including grasslands, healthy forests, and wetlands, from multiple environmental threats such as sprawl, energy development, and the spread of industrialized agriculture. The threats are now compounded and amplified by the escalating effects of global warming.
Humans are not nature friendly..whatever we do for the most part we hurt nature in a grand or small fashon.
It often makes me wonder how it is that this has come about...we are a mutation on this planet body and are killing it as we live on it. Hmm...sound familiar...

If you graph the population of birds with the inverse of human population over time, you'll get a pretty good match. Coincidence? I think not.

So, why are there more robins, geese and black birds? How IS the count done?

Marie,

Some birds do well in disturbed environments. Canada geese have become as numerous as they are today precisely because they like lawns.

Robins are pretty adaptable and will probably deal with almost anything we throw their way, likewise for herring gulls.

Which black birds do you mean? European Starlings? If so, they are an introduced species who, along with house sparrows and rock pigeons are making life difficult for the locals. Actually, I may be wrong on the pigeons. They could just be taking the place of the once incredibly numerous passenger pigeons that are now extinct.