5 Endangered Birds of America

Birds have always been a subject of fascination for nature lovers and poets. If your child loves nature, they too might have observed the feathered creatures fluttering about and singing. Every time we go outside, we may see or hear a bird. 

Today is National Bird’s day in the US. The day is celebrated to highlight issues concerning the survival and protection of both captive and wild birds. So, why don’t you take time today to regale your child with bird stories? It is also an excellent opportunity to get to know about bird species in America that face an existential threat. Here are some fun facts about a few species of birds facing threats to their habitat and dwindling in the wild. 

Piping Plover

• Piping Plovers dramatically started to disappear in the 19th and 20th centuries as their feathers were increasingly used in producing women’s hats and other articles of clothing. Thanks to various protection Acts, their population has been increasing slowly since 1991.
• When they sense a threat, the adult birds flap their wings like they are wounded to distract the threat. This is known as the “ broken wing” display.
• Plovers mark their beach territory. They are known to greet people at the entrance of their territory and escort them till they leave.

Florida Grasshopper Sparrow

• This bird is so named because its sound resembles a grasshopper’s.
• Florida Grasshopper Sparrow is found only in South and Central Florida.
• The bird is one of the most endangered birds in North America, and the reason is the loss of its prairie habitat.

California Condor

• The population of this species dropped during the 20th century due to poisoning from lead and DDT.
• They are considered the largest flying bird in North America
• This enormous bird, while flying, can soar as high as 15,000 feet by gliding on air currents.

Red-Cockaded Woodpecker

• This woodpecker’s habitat is in South Eastern United States pine forests.
• They excavate their cavities in living pine trees.
• They are called keystone species as the nest cavities they excavate become a habitat for other species.

Kirtland’s Warbler

• Kirtland’s Warbler is a migratory songbird that weighs only half an ounce.
• Interestingly, human suppression of forest fires is what makes them endangered. The jack pine seeds are forced out of the pine cone by heat from naturally occurring forest fires, and they sprout into new trees from the ashes. By suppressing the wildfire, they lose their habitat. They are called habitat specialists because they are very choosy about their habitats.
• The female bird lays eggs and sits on the nest until the eggs hatch. Meanwhile, the male bird feeds the nesting female with insects.

Encourage your child to learn more about the birds they like best; this could make them more curious about nature and the environment on the whole.