Bird populations are shrinking faster in agriculture hotspots — including the Midwest, study finds ^75.5%

KCUR - Kansas City news and NPR - By Abigail Bottar - 4/21/2026, 9:00 AM

Appeal to Authority 32.7% - Optimism Bias 12.3% - Confirmation Bias 11.2%

Subscribe to the new Harvest newsletter, for our latest reporting on agriculture and the environment, behind-the-scenes exclusives, and more. A new study finds bird populations are declining at a faster pace in areas with a lot of agriculture, especially in the Midwest. The loss of bird populations has been documented since the 1970s. A... more