The loss of natural habitats in the Prairies has created a “conservation crisis” for dozens of bird species according to a national bird conservation organization.
This crisis is illustrated in a new report on the state of Canada’s birds released Tuesday by Birds Canada in partnership with Environment and Climate Change Canada. This report is the third of its kind. Similar documents were published in 2019 and 2012.
The most recent report indicates that since 1970, when reliable bird count data began to be kept, birds living full or part time on the prairies of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta have decreased by 67%.
They include burrowing owls, Sprague’s pipits, many species of sparrows and buntings, and many others.
Birds that live primarily or only in western grasslands declined by 90% during the same period, according to the report.
Ian Cook, grassland conservation manager for Birds Canada, said the widespread population decline is the result of the destruction or fragmentation of grasslands by cropland and urban expansion, the energy industry and climate change.
“The loss of grassland habitat is primarily due to the conversion of grassland to cropland,” Cook said. It is often unwise, even foolish, for farmers and ranchers to choose to keep grasslands intact and raise cows, if they can grow annual crops instead. »
“This is not to say that farming is bad or easy — it is important and difficult,” he said.
“But we must recognize that there is an urgent need to address the loss of grassland birds and biodiversity. It is because these meadows are today one of the most threatened habitats in Canada and on the planet that they are disappearing. »
Mr Cook said about 1,840 square kilometers of grassland disappears each year in the area. “This therefore represents on average one hectare of meadow every three minutes.”
The report states that the Chestnut-bellied Sparrow population has declined by almost 95% over the past 50 years. There are an estimated 3.1 million Chestnut-bellied Sparrows in the world, with just under 700,000 in Canada.
The burrowing owl is another endangered species in Canada, the report says. “The burrowing owl was once a common breeding bird in the dry prairies of Western Canada, but has become very rare. »
The most recent population estimate, in 2017, was 270 burrowing owls on the Prairies. In 2006, the population was estimated between 800 and 1600 individuals.
Major problems
Mr Cook said habitat loss posed major problems for grassland birds during the nesting season, because they may be more exposed to predators hunting eggs or nestlings, or because these birds are not in able to find a place to nest.
The breeding success of these birds then decreases. This is what is really leading to these losses of grassland birds.
Ian Cook, Grassland Conservation Manager for Birds Canada
Cook said the organization wants the public to understand the value of grasslands, not only for the habitat they provide for birds, but also for their ability to sequester carbon dioxide and mitigate flooding.
He added that buying Canadian grass-fed beef helps preserve prairies, as would government action on climate change.
“That’s another threat to these birds: extreme weather events […] caused by climate change. »
Mr Cook said the problem facing grassland birds could be solved.
“This report shows us that when we really understand a problem well and take deliberate and effective action to address it, we can do truly incredible things for bird conservation,” he insisted, adding that the The report also identifies an increase in waterfowl and wetland bird populations.
“Many of them were on the verge of extinction at the beginning of this century. But because we put in the work and we invested, we have reestablished many of these species. And now, these groups of birds constitute one of the greatest conservation success stories in North America. »