I have been reading about the declining bird population, and have noticed this year how there are very few birds around my home.

I have bird feeders I stock all year long,there are some birds that show up, but not in the numbers I used to see. Migratory or non-migratory, it's just very few.

Normally this time of the year, every morning my feeders would be swarmed with pine siskins, Cardinals, Jays, woodpeckers, and doves on the ground.

I walk through the woods on my property, and see very few birds. Growing up, used to see lots of catbirds and mockingbirds. A few mockingbirds show up, but no catbirds.

There are many species I could mention, but in general there are far less birds visible than a few years ago.

Is this true for where you live?

Really sad if this is happening, songbirds have vanished.

Personally, in my area, I blame clear cut logging.

It’s been a while since I’ve seen Gold Finches, Still have a few Cardinals, Tit Mouse, some Sparrows and a few Dove, but currently seems a decline.

Like you I feed them year round.

I think bird populations are in decline due to the amount of feral cats. Smitshonian Article

I used to live in a town that had a hellacious feral cat problem and there wasn't a bird for miles because of it.

I like to birdwatch. Normally during the summers, I notice a transient bird species nesting, eg.,Scarlet Tanger

Did not see any new to my area birds this summer.

I noticed a decline the last two years, now many starlings, they predate on other birds nests.

Less blue jays, woodpeckers and hummingbirds around here. Less finches too. Some new brown bird - smaller than blue jays but larger than pecker.

I’d say half are gone.

No Meadowlarks,Thrushes, Flickers,Phobes,heck, I've not seen a Starling in the country in years.

So many types of birds missing.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Sunset_Va,

Overall, we seem to see far fewer birds. Whatever is cutting into the general bird population doesn’t seem to bother magpies.

quote:

Originally posted by Sunset_Va:
I like to birdwatch. Normally during the summers, I notice a transient bird species nesting, eg.,Scarlet Tanger

Did not see any new to my area birds this summer.

I found one dead several years ago and thought it could have been West Nile virus.

I only had two pair of bluebirds this year when I could have ten or more pair. Only one fletched four birds. I had six bluebird boxes destroyed by someone. Looks like they hit it with something that damaged it enough that it was not repairable. They even killed the bird that was on one nest.

Lots of other bird species not around as well.

I feed a couple of feral cats, so the lack of birds in my AO is not surprising. The number of feral cats I feed has lessened (less than half the max) so I'm not too worried about the effect on the general bird population.

flashguy

It seems like we do have fewer birds in my area.
But, while we've had a hawk in the neighborhood forever, lately I've seen two hawks hanging out together.

Now, if the mole population could be eradicated...

The Sharp Shined Hawk has been destroying my bird population. State Fish and Game said to shoot it as they were worried about the declining song bird populations...I try to work on the Audubon Annual Bird count every year around this time and we have noticed the decline as well. Living in the country, people seem to think it is OK to drop of stray cats. I shoot every one I see. A pet indoor cat is great but not outside.

Not here. The quail are thick, as usual. There are plenty of red tailed hawks around. Plenty of turkeys (wild), and plenty of turkey vultures. A lot more woodpeckers than I’d like, and plenty of other birds too.

Other than fewer hummingbirds at the feeder, I haven’t noticed a huge drop in bird numbers. I see plenty from my stand and hear them looking for food in the leaves while I wait for the deer to show up. I have noticed the number of tree rats seems to be pretty healthy, both grays and fox.

Our lake place borders a national forest. I had about 4 humminbirds last summer and the lack of songbirds was very noticeable. We have woodpeckers, hawks,eagles, some robins but the smaller nut hatches etc. were almost non existent. Could just be a natural cycle of nature?

I know the wind generator farms are responsible for lack of bird populations in areas they are located in but we have none that close to us.

We have had a lot of birds at our house but we are feeding them

Last week saw a hawk perched on a wall with something in its grasp it ended up being a bird. There does seem to be a decline of song birds.

We’re up the road a bit from the OP and we’re commenting on this a few months ago. We decided to get a suet ball feeder and hang it off our deck in the hopes of helping the existing populations make it through the upcoming Winter.

We’ve been pleasantly surprised at the number of birds that have visited on a semi regular basis including Red breasted woodpeckers, cardinals, tit mouses and several other species.

I hope it helps.

quote:

Originally posted by smlsig:
We’re up the road a bit from the OP and we’re commenting on this a few months ago. We decided to get a suet ball feeder and hang it off our deck in the hopes of helping the existing populations make it through the upcoming Winter.

We’ve been pleasantly surprised at the number of birds that have visited on a semi regular basis including Red breasted woodpeckers, cardinals, tit mouses and several other species.

I hope it helps.

Thanks for making the extra effort.

Old growth hardwood forests in Virginia are being decimated, sadly. These hardwood forests have not only the principle growth trees, but understory growth that support many birds that thrive on insects, not only seeds. Clear cutting destroys this for birds.

Pine forests support some birds, but not on the scale as hardwood forests.

Feral/stray cats have been killing the shit out of our neighborhood birds. I find a couple of piles of feathers in my yard, every week. They got our Cardinal a few days ago.