The Canadian prairies are experiencing a severe bird population crisis, with dramatic declines documented across multiple species groups since systematic monitoring began in the 1970s. The latest data reveals that grassland birds have suffered the most catastrophic losses, declining by 67% since 1970, with some specialist species showing population crashes exceeding 90%.cbc+2

Population trends for major bird groups on the Canadian Prairies (1970-2024)

Grassland Birds in Crisis

Grassland birds represent the most imperiled group on the Canadian prairies, with populations plummeting at unprecedented rates. Species that depend exclusively on prairie grasslands have experienced a devastating 90% decline since 1970. The most severely affected species include:cbc

Chestnut-collared Longspur: Nearly 95% population decline over 50 years, now listed as endangered with only 700,000 individuals remaining in Canada out of 3.1 million worldwide.birdscanada+1

Thick-billed Longspur: 96% decline from 1970-2019, representing one of the steepest documented population crashes for any North American bird species.natureconservancy

Sprague's Pipit: Declining at 4% annually, with populations already critically low and unable to sustain such rapid losses.cwf-fcf

Burrowing Owl: Population crashed from 800-1,600 pairs in 2006 to just 270 pairs by 2017, facing potential extirpation from Canada.cbc

The primary driver of these declines is habitat loss, with approximately 1,840 square kilometers of grassland lost annually across the prairies—equivalent to one hectare every three minutes. This habitat destruction stems primarily from conversion to cropland, urban development, and energy sector activities.birdscanada+1

Monitoring Programs and Data Sources

Several comprehensive monitoring programs track prairie bird populations:

Grassland Bird Monitoring Program (GBMP): Active since 2021, this program conducts point counts across Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan, covering 247 taxa with over 113,000 records from 6,719 locations.naturecounts

North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS): Provides long-term trend data since 1966 for approximately 300 Canadian bird species, using standardized roadside surveys.ace-eco+2

Canadian Migration Monitoring Network (CMMN): A network of independent bird observatories monitoring over 200 species, particularly valuable for boreal-nesting species poorly covered by other surveys.birdscanada+2

Christmas Bird Count: Provides winter population data, with Alberta alone recording 56 counts involving nearly 1,670 volunteers during the most recent season.birdscanada

Waterfowl: A Conservation Success Story

In contrast to grassland birds, waterfowl populations represent one of North America's greatest conservation success stories. Waterfowl have increased by 150% since 1970, demonstrating the effectiveness of coordinated habitat conservation efforts.thestarphoenix+1

Waterfowl population and habitat trends in Prairie Pothole Region (2020-2025)

Recent waterfowl trends show resilience despite challenging conditions:

2024 Survey Results: The first documented increase in total surveyed breeding ducks (+5%) in the traditional survey area since 2015, with mallards increasing 8%.ducks

2025 Breeding Populations: Total duck populations reached 34.6 million, up from 33.8 million in 2024, despite ongoing drought conditions in much of the Prairie Pothole Region.ducks+1

Habitat Dynamics: Pond counts in the U.S. and Canadian prairies totaled 5.2 million in 2025, up 4% from 2023, though Prairie Canada was down 19% while the northcentral U.S. increased 49%.ducks

Shorebird Declines

Shorebirds have experienced a 42% population decline since 1980, making them the second-most imperiled group after grassland birds. These declines affect species that breed in Arctic and prairie environments, with habitat loss occurring across their entire migratory range from breeding grounds in Canada to wintering areas in Central and South America.richmond-news+2

Aerial Insectivores and Long-Distance Migrants

Aerial insectivores—birds that catch insects in flight—have declined by 59% since 1970. This group includes flycatchers, swallows, and nighthawks, many of which also utilize prairie environments. Long-distance migrants have experienced similar declines of 43%, reflecting challenges across their vast migration routes.richmond-news+2

Boreal Forest Connections

The boreal forest serves as critical breeding habitat for billions of birds that migrate through or winter in prairie regions. Each fall, 3-5 billion birds migrate south from Canada's boreal forest, with many utilizing prairie habitats as stopover sites. Species like the Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Olive-sided Flycatcher, and various warbler species depend on both boreal breeding grounds and prairie migration corridors.lslbo+2

Conservation Efforts and Solutions

Bird-Friendliness Index: Developed by Birds Canada, this innovative tool measures bird conservation impact at the farm level, providing incentives for landowners to maintain bird-friendly practices.birdscanada+1

Habitat Conservation Programs: The Prairie Habitat Joint Venture has invested $395.5 million over eight years, achieving 42% of restoration objectives and 96% of retention objectives.phjv

Policy Initiatives: The recently launched Bird-friendliness Index Incentive Pilot Program combines long-term conservation agreements with scientific monitoring to reward ranchers for conserving grassland birds.birdscanada

Species at Risk Designations

Multiple prairie bird species now receive protection under federal and provincial Species at Risk legislation:

Greater Prairie-Chicken: Extirpated from Canadawildlife-species.canada
Burrowing Owl: Listed as threatened
Chestnut-collared Longspur: Listed as endangered
Baird's Sparrow: Special concern federally, endangered in Manitobarmalberta

Climate Change and Future Outlook

Climate change poses additional threats through increased frequency of droughts, floods, and severe weather events. The prairies have experienced several consecutive years of drought, creating challenging conditions for both grassland birds and waterfowl.richmond-news+3

Despite these challenges, targeted conservation efforts show promise. Waterfowl recovery demonstrates that coordinated habitat conservation can reverse population declines. However, the crisis facing grassland birds requires immediate, large-scale action to prevent further extinctions and restore prairie ecosystems to support these specialized species.cbc+2

The data clearly indicates that while some bird groups like waterfowl have recovered through dedicated conservation efforts, grassland birds face an unprecedented conservation emergency requiring urgent intervention to prevent the loss of these iconic prairie species from Canada's landscape.

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Thursday, September 4, 2025

Birdcount trends on Canadian prairies