Natural History Wanderings

ScienceDaily recently reported on research that show habitat lost, not the use of insecticides is primary reason for the decline in grassland birds. They report

Contrary to recent well-publicized research, habitat loss, not insecticide use, continues to be the best explanation for the declines in grassland bird populations in the U.S. since the 1980s, according to a new study by ecologists. Last year, a pair of researchers linked the drop in the populations of grassland bird species to insecticide use, rather than to a rapid decline of grasslands, a more commonly accepted theory. However, after re-examining the data, researchers now believe that the loss of habitat continues to be the best explanation.

Read full story at:  Habitat loss, not poison, better explains grassland bird decline — ScienceDaily.