By Dr. Michael Kreger, vice president of conservation at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and co-chair of AZA SAFE North American Songbird
Imagine waking up to the sweet melodies of songbirds heralding the start of a new day. These vibrant tunes, a hallmark of North American wildlife, are more than just nature’s soundtrack —they signal the health of our environment. Yet, these delightful creatures are facing unprecedented threats and their harmonious songs risk falling silent. Discover how the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, The Wilds and their partners are stepping up to ensure that the symphony of North American songbirds continues to resonate for generations to come.
Cedar Waxwing | Credit: Amanda Carberry, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
What are North American songbirds?
There are 319 North American songbirds, or birds that spend part of their annual life cycle in North America. North American songbirds are perching birds. They’re typically small-to-medium-sized and they’re distinguished by their vocal abilities. Species, such as the northern cardinal, eastern meadowlark and common grackle are common in backyards and forests alike, contributing significantly to the region’s biodiversity.
Why are songbirds important?
Songbirds play crucial ecological roles such as pest control and seed dispersal. They’re also indicators of environmental health and contribute to the economy through bird watching, a popular hobby with more than 75 million enthusiasts in North America. In 2012, bird conservation and bird watching generated an impressive $107 billion in economic impact and created 666,000 jobs in the United States alone!
What threats do songbirds face?
Despite their importance, songbirds face numerous threats, including:
- Habitat loss: Urbanization and deforestation has reduced their natural habitats.
- Predation: Domestic and feral roaming cats significantly impact bird populations. An estimated 2.4 billion birds are killed by cats each year in the United States.
- Collisions: Buildings and other structures pose collision risks. These threats have led to steep declines in some common bird species, with some losing half their global population in the past four decades. An estimated 1 billion birds are killed by glass collisions in the U.S. each year.
Songbirds at the Columbus Zoo
The Columbus Zoo is home to various songbird species, including those commonly found in North American backyards and forests. The aviary offers visitors a close look at these birds and provides insights into their biology, threats and what visitors can do to conserve them. Some species include:
- Cedar waxwing
- American robin
- Rose-breasted grosbeak
- Red-winged blackbird
- American goldfinch
Red-winged blackbird
How can you help songbird conservation?
Everyone can play a role in songbird conservation. Here are some examples:
- Keep domestic cats indoors: Predation on birds is the largest threat the songbirds face. By keeping the cats indoors or by supervising their outdoor time, the risk is greatly reduced.
- Use bird friendly glass techniques: Minimize collision risks by reducing reflection! Close window blinds, add dot stickers or use window paint.
- Support Bird Friendly® Coffee: Bird Friendly® Coffee is a certification program of the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center that is an incentive for coffee growers from Mexico to Peru to grow their organic shade-grown coffee under forest canopy. Bird Friendly coffee, and now also cocoa, provide habitats for birds by protecting the forests they live in.
- Plant bird habitat: Provide a reliable feeding and nesting source, especially during bird migration. Learn how to build your own wildlife garden.
- Participate in community science: Engage in bird counts and surveys to help track bird populations and inform conservation efforts through programs, such as eBird and iNaturalist.
Get more birding tips in this story from the National Wildlife Federation.
AZA’s North American Songbird Program
The Saving Animals From Extinction North American Songbird (SAFE NAS) program, an Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) species conservation program, focuses on collaborative efforts to protect and restore songbird populations. This program brings together a coalition of zoos and aquariums that work with advisors and partners to develop and implement conservation strategies, research initiatives and public education campaigns aimed at safeguarding these vital bird species. Not only are the Columbus Zoo and The Wilds proud members of this collaboration, but several team members serve as leaders and consultants, too.
How do the Columbus Zoo and The Wilds help songbirds?
The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and The Wilds, as well as Zoombezi Bay and Safari Golf Club (destination properties that are also a part the Columbus Zoo complex and support the mission with revenue from operations) are actively involved in several conservation initiatives.
Awards and leadership
- The Columbus Zoo co-chairs the SAFE NAS program with the Smithsonian’s National Zoo. Both the Columbus Zoo and The Wilds serve on the SAFE NAS steering committee, with team members chairing two of the initiatives.
- The Columbus Zoo, along with the Akron Zoo and Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, were awarded a Plume Award from the AZA’s Avian Scientific Advisory Group for significant contributions to zoo aviculture. This honor recognizes their substantial efforts in conserving native and migratory songbirds.
- The Zoo leads the SAFE NAS initiative to combat North American songbird trafficking, and The Wilds leads the Community Science Initiative, both focusing on the study and protection of native songbirds.
Events and public engagement
- Bird walk for World Migratory Bird Day: The Columbus Zoo holds a bird walk for both staff and volunteers, reporting the results to eBird and iNaturalist to contribute to community science efforts.
- World Migratory Bird Day: The Zoo and The Wilds celebrate this day annually by way of guest events and activities, raising awareness about migratory bird threats and encouraging actions like keeping cats indoors and using bird-friendly glass.
Facilities and habitats
- Habitat restoration at Safari Golf Club: Safari Golf Club removes invasive vegetation around the course, including ponds, and plants native species, creating a suitable habitat for North American songbirds. The club has also created six acres of native areas and, working with the Ohio Bluebird Society, has a long-term bluebird and purple martin conservation program. This includes installing and monitoring nest boxes. For its wildlife conservation and environmental efforts, Safari Golf Club was designated as a “Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary” through the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses. This distinction has only been achieved by less than 2% of the 910 golf courses in Ohio and 2.7% of courses worldwide!
- New North American songbird aviary: Construction began at the Columbus Zoo on a new aviary set to open in 2025, which will include SAFE NAS messaging and further enhance conservation education efforts. The zoo’s current North American songbird aviary is where animal care staff currently help breed and rear these species. The aviary provides a serene walking path for guests to enjoy and to learn about the bird species that they may see in their own backyards. This aviary also serves as a resource for other zoos and helps educate the public about songbird conservation.
- Pollinator habitats. All Columbus Zoo parks include pollinator gardens, which are excellent nesting and feeding habitats for many migratory North American songbirds. Even the zoo’s waterpark, Zoombezi Bay, has pollinator gardens with interpretation for guests.
Motus Tower | Credit: Grahm S. Jones, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Research and monitoring
- Motus wildlife tracking system: With financial support from ornithologist Dr. Bernie Master, the Columbus Zoo has two Motus towers (one on the roof of Mapori Restaurant at the Zoo and one on the roof of the Johnson Center at The Wilds), which are part of an international monitoring network. These towers detect migratory birds that pass through the area and provide this data to an international network that monitors migratory behavior of birds, such as stopover areas and timing of migration. This information is used to answer basic research questions that can inform conservation strategies and city planning. The Columbus Zoo’s Motus tower has detected various species, including horned larks, eastern whip-poor-wills and white-throated sparrows.
- The Wilds: Staff and volunteers at The Wilds conduct bird surveys to monitor the effects of habitat restoration on bird populations, including grassland songbirds. This opportunity to learn is unique to The Wilds, which hosts over 10,000 acres of grasslands, prairies and wooded areas that were once surface mined for coal. The Wilds’ team also installs nest boxes to support species like the bluebird.
You can learn more about all the ways the Columbus Zoo, The Wilds and other organizations are helping songbirds by visiting the SAFE NAS website. By adopting these practices, you can contribute to the survival of North American songbirds, ensuring that these melodious creatures continue to grace our landscapes.
The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, The Wilds, Safari Golf Club, and Zoombezi Bay, through their various initiatives and affiliations, play a pivotal role in conserving North American songbirds. By supporting these efforts and adopting bird-friendly practices, we can all contribute to the protection and preservation of these vital and beautiful creatures.
