Birds that call Florida’s coastline and pine forests home are in serious decline, according to a sweeping new conservation report.
Why it matters: Birds are indicators of the overall health of their habitats and signal early warnings of broader trouble.
- If these habitats can’t support birdlife, they likely can’t sustain other wildlife — or even humans — for long.
What they’re saying: A list of species that have lost more than half of their populations in the last 50 years is “like a hit parade of Florida birds,” Audubon Florida executive director Julie Wraithmell told Axios.
- That’s in part due to migration patterns, she said. “Florida has an outsized importance for birds of this hemisphere because we’re kind of like a Grand Central Station.”
State of play: Coastal species, including the Wilson’s plover, sanderling and least tern, have experienced steep declines, according to the North American Bird Conservation Initiative’s 2025 State of the Birds report.
- So have woodland birds like the Bachman’s sparrow and Florida scrub jay — the only bird endemic to the Sunshine State — as the pine forests they inhabit shrink or disappear due to development.
Zoom in: Several of the declining shorebirds are nesting now along Tampa Bay beaches, Wraithmell said, including the least tern, Wilson’s plover and snowy plover.
- So are black skimmers, a species that didn’t make the list but that Wraithmell said is similarly struggling in Florida.
Friction point: These birds lay their eggs directly on the beach, making their nests particularly vulnerable.
- That’s why beachgoers may see areas of sand blocked off to pedestrians or Audubon Florida’s bird stewards keeping watch.
- “People aren’t expecting eggs in a small, shallow indentation of sand,” Wraithmell said. “A single person cutting through can cause the failure of an entire colony.”
- Struggling to find undisturbed beach sites, some birds have turned to flat gravel rooftops, which presents its own set of challenges.
The big picture: It’s not just Florida. Researchers tracked species nationwide and found declines almost everywhere — even among birds once thought resilient, like waterfowl.
- Roughly one-third of U.S. bird species — 229 in total — are now classified as high or moderate conservation concerns.
Yes, but: There are signs of hope.
- Conservation efforts helped the breeding population for American oystercatchers, which also nest along Tampa Bay beaches, bounce back 43% since 2009, although further conservation efforts are needed to sustain that recovery, per the report.
What’s next: Scientists are calling for bigger investments in habitat protection — particularly on private lands and in partnership with local communities and Indigenous nations.
The bottom line: “When we do good things for birds,” Wraithmell said, “we are all also doing good things for us.”
This article by Kathryn Varn, Alayna Alvarez was first published by Axios on 28 May 2025. Lead Image: A family of least terns. Photo: Sandeep Dhar/Audubon Photography Awards.
Wildlife in catastrophic decline
The 73% decline in vertebrate wildlife populations during the last 50 years (mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles and fish), is primarily driven by human activities that threaten biodiversity.
Habitat Loss and Degradation – human activities like deforestation, urbanization, and agriculture have led to the destruction and fragmentation of natural habitats, reducing the space and resources available for wildlife.
Pollution – air, water, and soil pollution from industrial activities, agriculture, and other sources can harm wildlife directly or indirectly by affecting their habitats and food sources.
Climate Change – changing weather patterns, rising temperatures, and sea levels are disrupting ecosystems and impacting species’ ability to adapt and survive.
Overexploitation of Resources – unsustainable hunting, fishing, and logging practices can lead to the depletion of populations and the loss of biodiversity.
Invasive Species – the introduction of non-native species can disrupt ecosystems, compete with native species, and threaten their survival.
Help to protect wildlife by donating as little as $5. Our conservation partners spend at least 80 percent of the money raised on actual fieldwork rather than administration and fundraising.
Leave a Reply