Several Oregon birds are dropping in numbers. As far as we can tell, much of this is due to habitat loss and other environmental factors. The Pinyon Jay is becoming rare. The die-off of pines due to bark beetles has exacerbated their circumstances. Western Meadowlarks (like their eastern cousins) are disappearing from some areas. Mowing machines and ag chemicals are among their enemies. The same goes for the American Kestrel.

Unlike the crow, kestrels cannot thrive in a typical suburb. Alas, the glamorous Loggerhead Shrike is another species with a diminishing population. How can we help?

Charles Gates was an educator and sports coach. He started birding in 1988 and is a founding board member of the East Cascades Bird Conservancy (then called the East Cascades Audubon Society), now called EC Bird Alliance. He helped develop the Dean Hale Woodpecker Festival & Green Ridge Hawkwatch. He is the creator of the Birds of Central Oregon YouTube video—co-creator with Ken Hashagen of the photo website Central Oregon Bird Nests, Eggs, and Young.