Bird losses are accelerating across North America, particularly in farming regions where agriculture is most intensive

Farming areas that use lots of fertilizers and pesticides stood out for the swift and accelerating decline of their bird populations.

By: François Leroy, The Ohio State University, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: March 11, 2026

Words: 1,048

Last Updated: 4 months, 3 weeks ago

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By François Leroy, The Ohio State University

Since the 1970s, the U.S. has lost billions of birds. We now know that those losses aren’t just growing – they are accelerating in places with intensive human activity, particularly where agriculture and expanding communities are changing the landscape.

Bird population declines have been closely linked to pollution, use of chemicals and physical changes to their habitats.

But human pressures on nature are not just …

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