insects and birds - population relationships

If you have been reading recent news about insect declines, you may notice that they often reflect, or approach in some ways the similar kinds of declines in certain bird species or species groups. The links between insect and bird declines are not proven, but evidence is growing that worldwide changes affect many groups of organisms, including birds.

Here are some sources that help to explain what is happening, and implications of these occurrences:

Human society under urgent threat from loss of Earth's natural life

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/may/06/human-society-under-urgent-threat-loss-earth-natural-life-un-report

As Insect Populations Decline, Scientists Are Trying to Understand Why

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/as-insect-populations-decline-scientists-are-trying-to-understand-why/?redirect=1

Insect and bird populations declining dramatically in Germany

https://www.dw.com/en/insect-and-bird-populations-declining-dramatically-in-germany/a-41030897
  
Why insect populations are plummeting—and why it matters

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2019/02/why-insect-populations-are-plummeting-and-why-it-matters/

Could Loss Of Flying Insects Be Leading To Loss Of Birds?

https://www.wxpr.org/post/could-loss-flying-insects-leading-loss-birds#stream/0

learn about the Midwest Migration Network

 See the website of the Midwest Migration Network, to learn more:
https://midwestmigrationnetwork.org/

Background:

https://midwestmigrationnetwork.org/about/background

Steering Committee:

 https://midwestmigrationnetwork.org/about/steering-committee

Our projects:

 https://midwestmigrationnetwork.org/our-projects

read about and join the Midwest Aerial Insectivore Discussion Group

If you're interested in learning more about our aerial insectivores (swallows, swifts, nightjars, flycatchers), read about them and join the Midwest Aerial Insectivore Discussion Group.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1581381955435390/

Cliff Swallows - Ph. by Ken Thompson - Wikim. Commons

Gyrfalcon - some new or recent research and readings

The Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus) is a raptor of remote arctic landscapes that nevertheless has a long association with humans. It is much sought-after by birders.

Ph. by Ómar Runólfsson - Wkim. Commons

Multiple organizations and individuals devote effort to research on this species, its ecology, distribution, and abundance.

See a few articles linked below that describe recent or new work or information on Gyrfalcons. 



BirdLife International information:
 http://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/Gyrfalcon

Predator‐prey feedback in a gyrfalcon‐ptarmigan system?
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6308892/ 

Research on Gyrfalcons' behavior on pack ice:
 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1474-919X.2011.01141.x



Gyrfalcon research at the Peregrine Fund, a world-wide raptor research and conservation organization:
https://www.peregrinefund.org/explore-raptors-species/Gyrfalcon

the source for bird sounds, world-wide

If you've never visited it, winter is a great time to spend a few hours at xeno-canto.org (https://www.xeno-canto.org/ ) - perhaps the most comprehensive site for bird sounds world-wide.
When you visit, type in the name of the species in which you have an interest, and explore the possibilities. New sounds for species from around the globe are being added continuously:

give yourself this book for Christmas

Although originally penned many decades ago, this book continues to influence me in myriad ways.

May Theilgaard Watts was the ecologist at the Morton Arboretum. Beyond that, in the pages of this book you will see her phenomenal skill as storyteller - and see the landscape unfold before you, and come to a deeper understanding of how and why it has changed.

A great friend and teacher, Roy Lukes, introduced me to it long ago, while reading to a group perched on the boardwalk at the Ridges Sanctuary. He read to us from the chapter entitled "History Book with Flexible Cover", explaining concepts about bogs and fens.

Cheers to the memory of May Watts, and Roy, too. Find a used copy - you won't regret it.

Bobwhite: what's happening to their population

Photo - B. Stansbery - Wikim. Commons

See previous articles posted here about the changing population of Northern Bobwhite, for example:
 https://futureofbirds.blogspot.com/2013/08/northern-bobwhite-info.html

The new Status and Trends from eBird drills further down into current information, showing areas where declines are sharpest:

https://ebird.org/wi/science/status-and-trends/norbob/trend-map-breeding

The abundance map demonstrates how numbers have dropped in many areas of the core range of this species:  https://ebird.org/wi/science/status-and-trends/norbob/abundance-map

One organization devoted to conservation of this species is the National Bobwhite Conservation Initiative. Learn more about their efforts at:  https://bringbackbobwhites.org/