Nature-based Solutions; Restoring and Maintaining Bird Habitats

Carl Sigel

An alarming story appeared in the Washington Post last week.¹ Scientists at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology reported that North America’s bird population has declined by almost 3 billion birds in the last 50 years. Agricultural practices and habitat destruction are primary causes; however, “several lines of research suggest that climate change could become a prominent, if not leading, cause of extinction over the coming century.” ²

There are many ways³ that faith communities can help reverse the trend by working to put nature back together again, restoring and maintaining habitat, lowering their carbon footprint, and building bird-friendly communities:

• provide nesting and roosting sites on campus
• reduce lawn size and plant native plants⁴
• use natural and organic materials in the landscape
• avoid pesticide use
• compost and recycle organic waste (yard and kitchen) into the soil
• join a lights out campaign
• provide water sources

References:

1. Brulliard, Karin. September 19, 2019). North America has lost 3 billion birds in 50 years. washingtonpost.com.
2. M. Pacifici, Michela, et al. Assessing species vulnerability to climate change. nclimate 5: 215 (2015).
3. NC Audubon. Ways to Help. https://nc.audubon.org/ways-to-help.
4. Tallamy, D. W. (2014). Bringing Nature Home, How you can sustain wildlife with native plants. Portland: Timber Press.

Photo: Goldfinches were frequent visitors to the native plants on the Church of the Nativity campus this summer.