The size of the world’s migratory bird populations is taking a nosedive, according to a new Nature study by scientists across four continents.
Led by researchers from Georgetown University and the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, the paper published Thursday found that half of all migratory bird species populations across the globe are shrinking in size.
Previous studies have called attention to the fact that North American and European migratory birds are declining at alarming rates, co-lead author and Smithsonian scientist Nathan Cooper said in the statement.
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“But, until now, we did not have a good assessment about how birds are doing across all of the global terrestrial and marine flyways,” he said.
