In the last 50 years, the US and Canada have lost about 3 billion birds due to human activity, which is more than a quarter of the bird’s population. In comparison, Europe has lost 600 million birds. In total, that’s almost half of the human population. However, more extinctions are expected to happen. According to the State of the World’s Birds report, 48% of the birds worldwide are declining in population.
Birds are essential to the environment because they contribute to pollination, reproduction of plants through dispersing seeds, and consumption of various insects keeping their population controlled.
The trends are that the rarest and most distinctive birds are going extinct, and the ones left are becoming more alike in physical features. This process is called homogenization. This makes sense because the environments are also changing and becoming more similar. It’s the survival of the fittest, Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution through natural selection, passing down the traits to the offspring for best survival for the environment and more offspring. The characteristics will evolve to a small to medium body size and a strong, short beak, like sparrows and crows.
One hotspot currently most at risk for homogenization is the Himalayas in Asia, where several species of imperiled vultures live. If these large scavengers go extinct, the ecosystem’s bird diversity will come crashing down. It will then continue to other locations all over the world.
Researchers are digging further to understand why invasive species can thrive in unknown environments, but I don’t know how this will resolve the biodiversity problem. It will only show the common characteristics, which is most likely their diet has a massive range of foods they consume, while other species have a more narrow range diet. They are also likely less sensitive to temperature change, pH levels in the water, and more. Unfortunately, these features can’t be incorporated into endangered species’ DNA because they will just become like the invasive species, leading to another problem. I feel the best thing is to pinpoint the causes and try to eliminate or decline them worldwide.
Wetzel, C. (2022, July 21). As more bird species go extinct those that are left may be more alike. New Scientist.
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