Locally, birders can get involved with shorebird and songbird censuses, encourage towns to build parks, and steer new construction to areas already developed. At home, we can get to know our local birds, conserve water, recycle waste, limit use of pesticides, and become informed. Introducing species Introducing nonnative species into our bird population has had a major impact on some species. The range of the introduced House Sparrow has spread throughout all of North America where the bird competes with native species. Endangering birds Balancing industrial needs and the needs of birds is difficult.
Some birds can only exist in specific habitats.
Overcutting of old-growth forests poses a serious threat to the home of a variety of species of birds, such as the Spotted Owl. We nearly lost the magnificent Peregrine Falcon. Pesticides working their way into the eggs of the Peregrine Falcon made their egg shells too thin to survive. Rachel Carson alerted the world to the dangers of DDT with her classic Silent Spring in 1962. Fouling our own nest Oil spills are devastating to birds.