Many bird populations in Virginia and the U.S. are declining, report shows

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- The populations of many birds found along Virginia's coast and forests are declining, according to the 2025 State of the Birds Report for the United States.

Birds are considered key indicators of the health of an ecosystem because they respond to changes in the environment, have critical functions in an ecosystem -- like dispersing seeds and eating insects -- and are relatively easy to observe.

By studying birds, researchers can learn more about surrounding habitats and spread awareness to promote the public's interest in conserving both bird species and the natural areas they inhabit.

This year's report, released in March, assesses the health status of bird populations in the U.S. and was made collaboratively by scientists from organizations within the North American Bird Conservation Initiative.

A 2019 study showed a net loss of 3 billion birds in North America in the past 50 years, and the 2025 report reflects continued losses. Roughly a third of all American bird species are of high or moderate concern due to low populations, declining trends, or other threats, according to the report.

Tipping point species were identified, which have reportedly lost more than 50% of their populations within the past 50 years. They are classified by different levels of urgency -- red, orange, and yellow -- based on the trajectory of declines, severity of threats, and the security of core breeding populations.

"Tipping point species include birds that need focused scientific research to identify drivers of decline, and immediate help through voluntary and proactive conservation action," the report states.

Most tipping point species found in Virginia were also listed by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources as being "birds under the greatest conservation need" under the 2015 Wildlife Action Plan.

This year's report showed that species found in Virginia, like the black rail, Wilson's plover, Bachman's sparrow, and saltmarsh sparrow, have "perilously low populations" and steep trends of decline, making them red-alert tipping point species.

Black rail (Photo: Jarrett Woodrow, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

Wilson's plover with chicks on Wassaw National Wildlife Refuge (Photo: Mary Ellen Urbanski, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

Painting of Bachman's sparrow by Louis Agassiz Fuertes (Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

Saltmarsh sparrow nest at Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge in Maine. (Photo: Bri Benvenuti, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

The report also listed the following birds found in the Commonwealth as showing long-term population losses and faster recent declines within the past year, categorizing them as orange-alert tipping point species:

• Chimney swift
• King rail
• Black-bellied plover (winter)
• Piping plover
• Whimbrel
• Red knot
• Sanderling
• Short-billed dowitcher
• Least tern
• Eastern towhee

Chimney swifts flying (Photo: Jeff&Amy, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

King rail at Athur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge (Photo: Susan Young, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

Black-bellied plover feeding at Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge (Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

Piping plover (Photo: Jim Hudgins, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

Whimbrel (Photo: Ernesto Gomez, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

Red knot (Photo: Zak Pohlen, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

Sanderling (Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

Short-billed dowitchers at Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge (Photo: Mark Danaher, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

Least tern with eggs at Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge (Photo: Becky Harrison, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

Eastern towhee (Photo: Grayson Smith, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

In addition, the report listed the following yellow-alert tipping point species found in Virginia, which have had long-term population losses, according to the report, but relatively stable recent trends:

• Northern pintail
• Eastern whip-poor-will
• American oystercatcher
• Red-cockaded woodpecker
• Henslow's sparrow
• Wood thrush
• Field sparrow
• Cerulean warbler
• Golden-winged warbler

Northern pintail (Photo: Dave Menke, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

Eastern whip-poor-will (Photo: Alan Schmierer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

American oystercatcher (Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

Red-cockaded woodpecker with a male juvenile (Photo: Larry A. Woodward, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

Henslow's sparrow at Michigan Wetland Management District, Schlee Waterfowl Protection Area (Photo: Jim Hudgins, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

Wood thrush (Photo: Michael Schramm, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

Field sparrow at Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge (Photo: Laurie Sheppard, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

Cerulean warbler (Photo: Mikey Lutmerding, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

Golden-winged warbler (Photo: Alan Schmierer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

Overall, this year's report shows that shorebirds have the most tipping point species -- with 19 -- out of any group of birds in North America. The rate at which shorebirds are declining exceeds the thresholds for listing them as vulnerable or endangered under conservation standards, with the report stating that research on this, as well as on their conservation, is "urgently needed" on an international and intercontinental level to reverse declines.

In addition, the report partly associated population declines of eastern forest breeding birds in Virginia and other states since 1970 with changes in forest structure and composition related to harvesting practices, forest succession, and disturbances like fires. Species like the field sparrow
need regenerating or disturbed forest habitat, and their population continues to decline.

Losses in eastern forest birds were reportedly especially prominent along the Atlantic Coast, partially due to habitat loss from residential development and agriculture.

Although the report highlighted many declines, it also showed gains in some species following conservation efforts, including for American oystercatchers. Back in 2003, they were in serious decline, but since the American Oystercatcher Recovery Initiative launched in 2009 among federal, state, and private groups throughout 16 states, including Virginia, there has been a 43% increase in the regional breeding population.

In terms of people, the report showed that birds are of interest to a substantial portion of Americans, as there are reportedly nearly 100 million people, or roughly three out of 10, who engage in birding.

Further, the report states that those birders support local economies, as $108 billion was spent in the year for birding trips, to include food, lodging and equipment. In addition, 1.4 million jobs were noted as being spent on birding trips and equipment, generating more than $90 billion in labor income.

Birding activity reportedly generated $38 billion in annual tax revenue, made up of $7 billion in county taxes, $9 billion in state taxes and $22 billion in federal taxes. The total economic output generated by birder expenditures was $278 billion, according to the report.

With birdwatching booming in America, the report's message on the need for conservation efforts is clear, and its benefit to people -- from casual enjoyers of nature to avid birdwatchers -- can be felt.

"The science is solid on how to bring birds back," the report states. "Private lands conservation programs, and voluntary conservation partnerships for working lands, hold some of the best opportunities for sparking immediate turnarounds for birds."