SAFE North American Songbird Program: Safeguarding Our Feathered Friends

Since 1970, North American bird populations have plummeted by three billion individuals, marking a staggering 29% decline from 1970 levels. Among the hardest hit are North American songbirds, facing a multitude of threats jeopardizing their survival. In response to alarming declines in North American songbird populations, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) initiated the SAFE (Saving Animals From Extinction) North American Songbird Program. The primary objective of this program is to mitigate threats to these species and ensure sustainable populations across their ranges.

‍There are five identified threats to the North American songbirds:
  1. Predation by Domestic Cats: Outdoor cats pose a significant threat, with an estimated 2.4 billion and 200 million birds falling prey to them annually in the United States and Canada, respectively.
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  2. Collisions with Glass: Up to one billion birds collide with glass structures in theU.S. alone each year, with many being North American songbirds.
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  3. Trade: Recent data suggests that international trade, particularly in Asian songbird species, poses a growing threat.
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  4. Habitat Loss and Invasive Species: Loss of habitat and proliferation of non-native species threaten songbirds across various ecosystems.
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  5. Contaminants: Neonicotinoids and plastics are emerging as significant contaminants, impacting migratory patterns, health, and reproduction of songbirds.

SAFE North American Songbird Program Taking Action:‍
The SAFE North American Songbird Program is actively addressing these challenges through a multi-faceted approach:
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  1. Glass Collision Prevention: Advocating for Lights Out initiatives and bird-friendly window treatments.
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  2. Cat Management: Implementing strategies to reduce the impact of domestic cats on native wildlife.
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  3. Habitat Restoration: Engaging in habitat restoration efforts within AZA facilities and surrounding communities.
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  4. Contaminant Reduction: Campaigning to minimize the use of pesticides and plastics affecting songbirds.
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  5. Promoting Bird-Friendly Practices: Encouraging the sale and use of Bird Friendly® Coffee.
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  6. Citizen Science: Hosting events like Migratory Bird Day and facilitating bird counts and tracking stations.
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  7. Combatting Trafficking: Collecting data to address the trafficking of North American songbirds.

How You Can Join the Effort
You too can contribute to safeguarding North American songbirds by:

  1. Installing bird-friendly window treatments to reduce collisions.
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  2. Keeping domestic cats from roaming outdoors to minimize their impact on bird populations.
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  3. Creating bird-friendly habitats in your yard with native flora, feeders, and water sources.
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  4. Reducing the use of pesticides and single use plastics in your daily life.
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  5. Supporting conservation efforts by purchasing Bird Friendly® Coffee.
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By collectively addressing these threats and implementing conservation measures, we can ensure a brighter future for North American songbirds and the ecosystems they inhabit.
Join us in this vital mission to protect our feathered friends.