Birds in Oregon face steep population declines

Zoom in: Pacific Northwest forest birds have seen substantial population decreases over the last 50 years due to "habitat degradation from fire suppression and industrial timber management," per the North American Bird Conservation Initiative's 2025 State of the Birds report.

• Oregon's Lewis's Woodpecker and Rufous Hummingbird are both labeled a "Tipping Point" species, meaning they could vanish without urgent conservation action​.
• Coastal seabird colonies are also at risk. Glaucous-winged gulls, marbled murrelets and Caspian terns have all been harmed by marine heatwaves and a rise in infectious diseases that have contributed to population decline.

Between the lines: A blow to birds is a blow to the economy. From birding tourism to pest control and pollination, birds generate nearly $280 billion annually for the U.S. economy, the report finds.

• Roughly one-third of U.S. bird species — 229 in total — are now classified as high or moderate conservation concerns.

Yes, but: There are signs of hope. Thanks to wetland protections, dabbling and diving duck populations have jumped 24% since 1970, while waterbirds are up 16% nationwide, per the report.