B.C. songbirds in jeopardy but can be saved, conservationist says

Conservation group Bird Studies Canada says songbirds are in decline in B.C., Canada and around the world.

But it's not too late for them.

"Songbirds are generally in decline, especially those that fly and catch insects …. That's both a Canadian and international problem," Bird Studies Canada president Steven Price told On The Coast host Stephen Quinn.

"But there is hope in the sense that birds of prey have come back as we've eliminated DDT, and waterfowl have come back as we've secured wetlands. The point is, if we take conservation action, we can save those birds that are in decline, including songbirds."

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Bird Studies Canada wants to understand what the decline of songbirds in this country means.

To help do that, the non-profit group has launched the B.C. Breeding Bird Atlas to gather information about changes to songbird populations and behaviours.

The atlas shows distribution, conservation status and population numbers of about 320 species of birds that call B.C. home.

Price says the atlas, which required the efforts of over 1,300 volunteers, can be a valuable tool for bird lovers, but also for government and business when it comes to planning.

In B.C., the birds most threatened are swallows, swifts and shorebirds. He says there are many small things people can do to help them.

"Look after [your] cats, reduce pesticide use in your yard," he said. "[With] clear windows, where birds either see reflections or at night see light and get confused, that can be fixed too either by turning the lights down or putting special tape on the windows."

With files from CBC Radio One's On The Coast

To hear the full story, click the audio labelled: Want to help save B.C. songbirds? Here are some tips