Natural History Wanderings

The New York Times reports on the decline of farmland birds in France and implications for all of Europe

Birds in farming regions of France are in trouble, and that may indicate problems in similar areas across Europe.

Scientists involved in long-running regional and national bird-counting surveys in France have reported precipitous declines in agricultural regions, even among common birds well adapted to human activity — the generalists, like blackbirds, that seem to do well in most circumstances.

This finding follows news of a devastating loss of insects in Germany, a decline of nearly 80 percent over the last 40 years. The drop is thought to be occurring throughout Europe.

Read full story at Farmland Birds in France Are in Steep Decline – The New York Times