Habitat loss is accelerating bird declines<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Since 1968 the West has lost almost half (46%) of aridland habitat from pressures such as drought, wildfires, and invasive plants. Renewable energy development adds to these pressures, which collectively contribute to widespread declines for birds such as Sagebrush Sparrow and Cactus Wren.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Public\/private\/Indigenous partnerships are showing great promise in protecting aridlands habitat. Addressing pressures requires active management, including more voluntary, proactive conservation efforts that support healthy, intact aridlands for communities of birds, other wildlife, and people.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
![\"Aridland](\"https:\/\/www.stateofthebirds.org\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Aridlands-circle.png\")
eBird Trends for Obligate Aridland Birds<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"Map](\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\")
A composite map of eBird Trends for aridlands birds shows declines across the West.<\/strong><\/br>Allen\u2019s Hummingbird, Bendire\u2019s Thrasher, LeConte\u2019s Thrasher, Verdin, and Greater Sage-Grouse are showing the biggest losses. Verdin by Bryan Calk \/ Macaulay Library<\/a>.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n- \n\n\n
Aridland Birds on the Brink<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Aridland Birds on the Brink: Nearly a quarter (seven) of the 31 aridland birds included in this analysis are designated as Tipping Point species. Scaled Quail and Rufous-crowned Sparrow are showing steep declines across more than half of their ranges.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
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Aridlands Conservation for All<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Landscape-scale efforts like Migratory Bird Joint Ventures focus on entire ecosystems and deliver broad benefits\u2014including carbon sequestration, access for hunting and outdoor recreation, and sustainable groundwater supplies for communities and agriculture.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
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Priority Planning for the Best Sagebrush<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The Sagebrush Conservation Design working group has identified key areas for conservation and management funding. These areas are strongholds of bird populations where sage-grouse populations are stable, and sagebrush songbird counts are up to 10 times higher than in other areas.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\nMaking Solar Energy Friendly for Thrashers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\nThe Desert Thrasher Working Group has been conducting surveys across the aridlands region to fill in knowledge gaps about Bendire\u2019s and LeConte\u2019s Thrasher (both Tipping Point species). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
What started as a localized effort in a single state has now expanded into a coordinated effort across multiple states in the southwestern U.S. and northwest Mexico, as well as by Indigenous Nations on both sides of the border. Recently the working group published a set of voluntary beneficial management practices for solar energy development sites to mitigate habitat fragmentation for thrashers and shrikes. The proactive measures are already being used by agencies to prevent further thrasher declines and reduce the need for regulatory measures and legal protections.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\nBendire\u2019s Thrasher is a Tipping Point species that will benefit from the Desert Thrasher Working Group\u2019s recommendations for solar energy development sites. According to eBird data, nearly 80% of the global Bendire\u2019s Thrasher population breeds in the United States, mostly in southern Arizona. Bendire’s Trasher by Angel Poe \/ Macaulay Library<\/a>.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
![\"Map](\"https:\/\/www.stateofthebirds.org\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Aridlands-MAP-parallel-lines.jpg\")
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Aridland Birds on the Brink<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Aridland Birds on the Brink: Nearly a quarter (seven) of the 31 aridland birds included in this analysis are designated as Tipping Point species. Scaled Quail and Rufous-crowned Sparrow are showing steep declines across more than half of their ranges.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
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\n\nAridlands Conservation for All<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Landscape-scale efforts like Migratory Bird Joint Ventures focus on entire ecosystems and deliver broad benefits\u2014including carbon sequestration, access for hunting and outdoor recreation, and sustainable groundwater supplies for communities and agriculture.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
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\n\nPriority Planning for the Best Sagebrush<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The Sagebrush Conservation Design working group has identified key areas for conservation and management funding. These areas are strongholds of bird populations where sage-grouse populations are stable, and sagebrush songbird counts are up to 10 times higher than in other areas.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\nMaking Solar Energy Friendly for Thrashers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\nThe Desert Thrasher Working Group has been conducting surveys across the aridlands region to fill in knowledge gaps about Bendire\u2019s and LeConte\u2019s Thrasher (both Tipping Point species). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
What started as a localized effort in a single state has now expanded into a coordinated effort across multiple states in the southwestern U.S. and northwest Mexico, as well as by Indigenous Nations on both sides of the border. Recently the working group published a set of voluntary beneficial management practices for solar energy development sites to mitigate habitat fragmentation for thrashers and shrikes. The proactive measures are already being used by agencies to prevent further thrasher declines and reduce the need for regulatory measures and legal protections.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\nBendire\u2019s Thrasher is a Tipping Point species that will benefit from the Desert Thrasher Working Group\u2019s recommendations for solar energy development sites. According to eBird data, nearly 80% of the global Bendire\u2019s Thrasher population breeds in the United States, mostly in southern Arizona. Bendire’s Trasher by Angel Poe \/ Macaulay Library<\/a>.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n - \n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.stateofthebirds.org\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/95810281-Bendires_Thrasher-Angel_Poe-2.jpg\")