Neighborhood Bird Project: Data Suggest More than Half of Local Bird Species Could Be Declining

Birders at Magnuson Park | Sarah Hankins | Birds Connect Seattle

by Joshua Morris, Conservation Director

Multiple recent assessments, including The State of the Birds 2025, have documented troubling declines in North American bird populations. But how are birds faring here in Seattle? 

Thanks to the long-term commitment of Neighborhood Bird Project (NBP) volunteers, we have a unique dataset to help answer that question. Over the past three decades, hundreds of volunteers have conducted more than 24,000 surveys, counting nearly half a million birds at Seattle-area greenspaces. 

Greenspaces with ongoing monthly Neighborhood Bird Project surveys include:

• Lyon Creek Waterfront Preserve
• Carkeek Park
• Golden Gardens
• Magnuson Park
• Discovery Park
• Washington Park Arboretum
• Cheasty Greenspace
• Genesee Park
• Seward Park
• Lincoln Park

The Birds Connect Seattle Science and Conservation Committees have been analyzing this dataset for insights into local bird occurrence dynamics. In one analysis, we modeled count trends for 112 species observed from 2005 to 2023. Preliminary results suggest that counts are declining for 61 species (54.5%) and stable or increasing for 51 species (45.5%).

We see steep declines in both native and non-native species. Among non-natives, House Sparrows and European Starlings declined by 24% and 12% per year, respectively. Counts for native aerial insectivores like Cliff Swallows, Barn Swallows, and Vaux’s Swifts all declined by an average of 13% per year. Species with increasing counts are all native to Western Washington, including Common Ravens (+32% per year), Purple Finches (+22% per year), and Dark-eyed Juncos (+15% per year). 

We must interpret these results cautiously. Many unmeasured and uncontrolled factors can influence counts, including observer ability, weather, human activity, and habitat changes. We are continuing to review our results and refine our approach and expect to publish a full report this summer. 

This article was originally published in our Summer 2025 issue of EarthCare Northwest, our quarterly member print newsletter. Click here to read the full issue online.