# Bird Deaths: Understanding the Impact on Avian Populations

- Link: https://greenlivingguy.com/2015/05/bird-deaths-understanding-the-impact-on-avian-populations/
- Published: 2015-05-26T00:41:15-04:00
- Author: greenlivingguy

## Bird Deaths

As we spoke with the Audubon head: “We’re talking about tens of millions of birds
every year. It’s time to end this terrible and unnecessary slaughter.”

NEW YORK (May 22, 2015) – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today announced its
intent ([https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2015/05/26/2015-12666/migratory-bird-permits-environmental-impact-statement](https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2015/05/26/2015-12666/migratory-bird-permits-environmental-impact-statement))
to address millions of grisly and unnecessary bird deaths by strengthening implementation
of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act ([http://www.audubon.org/mbta](http://www.audubon.org/mbta)),
one of the nation’s oldest and most important wildlife conservation laws. The process
will address threats like uncovered oil waste pits that trap and kill birds, gas
flares that lure and incinerate birds, and unprotected communication towers and 
power lines that kill and [electrocute](https://greenlivingguy.com/2012/04/windfarms-dont-destroy-bird-populations/)
birds by the tens of millions each year.

### 󠀁[⌊Bird deaths ⌉⌊Bird deaths ⌉󠀁[⏎  Countless Traps

“Every day, countless death traps across America needlessly kill birds in horrible
ways, from electrocution to drowning in oil – we’re talking about tens of millions
of birds every year,” said National Audubon Society President and CEO David Yarnold(@
david_yarnold).

“It’s time to end this terrible and unnecessary slaughter. There is [hope](https://greenlivingguy.com/2014/01/ancient-seabird-fossil-found-in-northern-chile/):
in many cases, the tools and technology to save birds have already been developed.
It’s time to make sure everyone plays by the same rules. Protecting wildlife is 
a deeply held American value, and we know that when we do the right things for birds,
we’re doing the right things for people too.”

#### Bird Death Rates

While obtaining reliable estimates of bird mortality from various hazards is challenging
due to lack of standardized procedures and [poor or absent reporting](https://greenlivingguy.com/2007/04/climate-report-poor-will-suffer-most/)
by some industries, it is clear that millions of birds could be saved by addressing
the following sources of mortality, all of which are named in the USFWS document
released today:

[⌊image⌉⌊image⌉[

Power lines: Up to 175 million birds per year (Source: [https://fs.fed.us/psw/publications/documents/psw_gtr191/Asilomar/pdfs/1051-1064.pdf)](https://web.archive.org/web/20170814124716/https://www.fs.fed.us/psw/publications/documents/psw_gtr191/Asilomar/pdfs/1051-1064.pdf)

Communication towers: Up to 50 million birds per year (Source: [https://fs.fed.us/psw/publications/documents/psw_gtr191/Asilomar/pdfs/1051-1064.pdf)](https://web.archive.org/web/20170814124716/https://www.fs.fed.us/psw/publications/documents/psw_gtr191/Asilomar/pdfs/1051-1064.pdf)
Oil waste pits: 500,000 to 1 million birds per year (Source: [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16988870)](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/)
Gas flares: No reliable mortality estimates, but an infamous 2013 incident in Canada
incinerated an estimated 7,500 birds ([Source](https://www.cbc.ca/): [http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/7-500-songbirds-killed-at-canaport-gas-plant-in-saint-john-1.1857615](http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/7-500-songbirds-killed-at-canaport-gas-plant-in-saint-john-1.1857615))

### Audubon Society

“This is just common sense. We can save the lives of millions of birds every year
by adopting practical, inexpensive solutions that put an end to these death traps,”
said Audubon Vice President for Government Relations Mike Daulton. “These horrific
deaths have gone on far too long.”

[⌊ducks migratory bird deaths ⌉⌊ducks migratory bird deaths ⌉[

Congress passed the [Migratory Bird Treaty Act](https://greenlivingguy.com/2018/05/500-organizations-50-states-urge-congress-defend-bird-protection-law-migratory-bird-treaty-act/)
in 1918 in response to public outcry over the mass slaughter of birds. Especially
which threatened egrets and other species with extirpation. The law also prohibits
killing or harming America’s birds except under certain conditions, including managed
hunting seasons for game species. The [law protects more than 1,000 bird](https://greenlivingguy.com/2011/11/migratory-bird-hunt-violates-conservation-laws/)
species.

Early Audubon Society activists were instrumental in passage of the law and in shifting
Americans’ relationship with its birds and other wildlife following the extinction
of birds like the Passenger Pigeon and Carolina Parakeet near the turn of the 20th
century.

#### National Audubon Society

The National Audubon Society saves birds and their habitats throughout the Americas
using science, advocacy, education and on-the-ground conservation. Finally, Audubon’s
state programs, nature centers, chapters and partners have an unparalleled wingspan.
One that reaches millions of people each year to inform. That’s as well as inspire
and unite diverse communities in conservation action. Since 1905, Audubon’s vision
has been a world in which people and wildlife thrive. Finally, Audubon is a nonprofit
conservation organization. [Learn more](https://www.audubon.org/) at [http://www.audubon.org](http://www.audubon.org).

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 greenlivingguy

 The Green Living Guy, Seth Leitman is an independent power producer, a green living
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