More Bird Species Endangered

Mister Bluebird may not be on your shoulder much longer—so sings The State of the Birds report issued by Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, which indicates that one third of US bird species are now endangered, threatened, or in significant decline. Hawaii’s local bird population, in particular, faces imminent peril as 71 species have already headed the way of the dodo with an additional 31 following the trend. The good news? Recent bird watchers have witnessed the recovery of the bald eagle and peregrine falcons following the ban of the chemical DDT, and wetland bird populations have grown since 1968. But for the most part, things are lookin’ gloomy, so if you own a pair of binoculars, you may want to dig them out and point your eyes toward the skies!