- Common birds decreased by 5% over the entire Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.
- Some species are in danger of extinction, like the tree sparrow which has lost 80% of its population in 20 years.
"I have been working at the LPO for 21 years, I am witnessing the disappearance of species that I never imagined seeing extinguished during my lifetime". In charge of studies at the League for the Protection of Birds of the Rhône, Cyrille Frey sounds the alarm. It reacts to the latest results from the temporal monitoring of common birds (STOC). A study piloted at the hexagonal level by the National Museum of Natural History, which ensures the good health of the planet, in partnership with associations in the regions. Twice a year since 2002, in winter and spring, volunteers participate in predefined areas in a count of common birds.
The conclusions of the latest report are "alarming," according to Cyrille Frey. Common birds have decreased by almost 5% since 2002 across the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region . The figures are all the more telling for birds from agricultural environments and cities since they have decreased by 16%. Among the most affected species, we find the barn swallow which has declined by 17%, the tree sparrow has lost 80% of its population in 20 years, and the goldfinch has just been classified as "vulnerable".
Victim of human omnipresence
For Cyrille Frey, the most worrying lies in the fact that "even the birds that live and have been used to human contact for centuries have come to no longer be able to survive". It is the consequence of the way in which man transformed his landscapes.
“In town, there are no more green spaces, so no more insects. Even in urban architecture, birds can no longer land and build nests, ”he describes. Similarly, agricultural areas are also no longer welcoming to birds, due to the permanent use of pesticides that kill the insects essential to their survival. Ditto for herbicides.
Which solutions?
"Technically, we know how to do it," explains Cyrille Frey. We have to reintroduce naturalness into our environment ”. Thanks to the establishment of more green spaces in the city, let weeds grow at the feet of trees, do not collect dead wood in the forest, and obviously stop the use of all harmful pesticides. Everyone can contribute on their own scale, according to the LPO volunteer, "for those who have a garden, it is advisable to leave an area of land that is not or rarely mowed".
However even if every small contribution counts, the situation is much more alarming: "Small gestures are no longer enough, we need policies that take strong directives to protect our environment". However, over the past 20 years, some species have increased in number, such as the blackbird, which has seen its population increase by 5%. This is thanks to the efforts of associations and professionals who are doing everything for their sustainability.
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