news on insect and related avian population losses

If you've been reading posts on this site for a while, it won't surprise you to learn that declines in insects and their links to avian population changes are an important focus here. In fact, two linked groups have flowed out of this concern: the Facebook discussion group Conservation and Ecology - Insects in the Midwest, and the group Midwest Aerial Insectivore Discussion Group came about directly or indirectly from the Midwest Coordinated Bird Monitoring Partnership. "

" These papers are significant, and could be among your readings if this is a topic of interest to you: "

" Scientists' warning to humanity on insect extinctions https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320719317823 "

' Are declines in insects and insectivorous birds related? https://bioone.org/journals/ornithological-applications/volume-123/issue-1/duaa059/Are-declines-in-insects-and-insectivorous-birds-related/10.1093/ornithapp/duaa059.short "

" Here are important facts from the latter paper, presented as the LAY SUMMARY: " There may be a link between declining insect populations and bird population declines. Bird populations are often limited by the amount of insect food available to them. Most of the bird species that have declined in the last 50 years are those that depend on insects for food. One cause of insect declines is the widespread use of non-native plants in forestry and horticulture that do not support insects. The loss of insects, birds, and other forms of life is important because those are the species that run the ecosystems that support humans. One solution to this problem is to increase the populations of the insects that birds depend on by increasing our use of native plants in managed landscapes."