The bright orange and black of the Bullock’s Oriole, the swoops and falls of blue-black barn swallows. The plaintive call of cranes overhead. One of the signs of spring is the return of migratory birds. In California, the swallows of Capistrano return so reliably that the town has welcomed them since the early 1800s and holds an annual Swallow Parade in celebration. Here on the ranch, we track other migratory birds – geese, cranes, orioles, meadowlarks, swallows, hummingbirds and many others. But the birds are disappearing.
Spring Without Birds
Orioles and meadowlarks are usually the first songbirds to show up. They usually arrive in March, some as early as late February. When we moved to the ranch 18 years ago, we typically had at least eight pairs nesting on the property. Last year we had one pair; this year we have none. Meadowlarks were so common that you would see a male nearly every 10 feet on the roadside fences, warbling away. Now I might see one every 200 feet or so. Cranes would go over in waves a few days apart for about six weeks. I’ve only heard two flocks of cranes this year. And I have yet to see any swallows. Nor have I seen any Rufous Hummingbirds at my feeders.
Birds by the Numbers
Yes, birds are disappearing. According to the State of the Birds Report, North America lost thee billion breeding birds between 1970 and 2022. Bird numbers are declining in every type of habitat except wetlands. There are multiple reasons, but the two biggest are probably habitat destruction and climate change, particularly as related to extreme weather events. In addition to the effect on birds, both of these also affect the insects and plants upon which birds depend for food. Pollinator insects are hit as well, so those birds that rely on flower nectar or fruits for sustenance have experienced disruption in food availability. And of course there are ripple effects up the food chain, as the predators that depend on the bird lose out on meals.
No Man is an Island
Nor does any one species of plant or animal exist in isolation. We are all connected by the invisible gossamer threads of the web of life. We should be paying attention to the bell that is tolling for our fathered friends. It is also tolling for us.
