Many birds species are in decline around the world. This is most frequently caused by habitat loss and development. However these effects can be mitigated with a few easy adjustments, which could even benefit you as well in the long run (aside from seeing more birds)!
Light Pollution
It’s estimated that up to one billion (yep – that’s 1,000,000,000) birds die each year from light pollution alone. Birds flying overhead confuse lights emitted up toward the sky as moonlight or starlight reflected in a pond or still water. When they go to land in the water, they actually crash onto the ground, sometimes being killed on impact, other times subjecting them to a fatal injury. This also occurs when migrating birds collide with buildings that have interior lights left on inside the office all night, the interior looking like a perch to explore and rest while leaving the window practically invisible to the birds.
This can be easily remedied by turning off exterior lights at night, and interior lights in vacant offices/buildings. This not only saves you money, it preserves their natural cycles of dark nights with bright days. If you’d prefer to leave an exterior light on all night for whatever reason, shielding the light and pointing it down (where it’s needed) eliminates the glare from the bulb, allowing the bird to see the landscape more clearly. Shielded lighting fixtures go for as little as $50.
Habitat Loss
Habitat loss accounts for a significant reason birds are in decline. Their natural nests and foraging grounds are routinely eliminated in place of consistently mowed lawns, and houses and buildings that aren’t suitable for their needs. When they migrate back into the U.S., their usual nest is gone, and they’re left searching for a new alternative, frequently confused and unable to find a potential new site.
To create a more suitable home for birds, consider putting up bird houses around your property of different sizes for different species. This website has a great list of dimensions for various birds. Likewise, investing in bird feeders and keeping them well stocked (as well as cleaned out regularly) provides them with food to acclimate to a recently disturbed parcel of land. Regardless, it will also help out birds seeking out new territory from habitat loss elsewhere in the region.
One of the most powerful things you can do for birds is to let your lawn grow out. The taller grass invites more insects and bugs, creating a natural buffet for many different birds. In addition, keeping fall leaves on the ground instead of raking them up invites even more birds to scour the leaves for a meal. Once you see how welcoming a yard like this appeals to wildlife and birds, you’ll never want a trimly-mowed lawn again.