Barn Swallow | Pauliina Saarinen | Audubon Photography Awards 

by Joshua Morris, Conservation Director

Swallows, swifts, flycatchers, and nightjars are aerial insectivores—birds that hunt insects on the wing. These birds have been identified as species of concern due to steeply declining populations across North America in recent decades.  

Tough data to swallow

Our local aerial insectivores appear to be declining, too. Thanks to the data collected by hundreds of Birds Connect Seattle community volunteers from 2005 to 2023, we’ve been able to analyze trends from the Neighborhood Bird Project counts for 115 species. Among landbirds, counts of aerial insectivores declined fastest, at an average rate of 7.3% per year, with nine out of ten species showing negative trends.

Cliff Swallows fared the worst. Counts fell by 20% annually, for a cumulative decline of 98% since 2005. Barn Swallow and Vaux’s Swift also declined precipitously at 95% and 91%, respectively. 

OSFL = Olive-sided Flycatcher;
WEWP = Western Wood-pewee;
NRWS = Northern Rough-winged Swallow;
WIFL = Willow Flycatcher;
TRES = Tree Swallow;
VGSW = Violet-green Swallow;
VASW = Vaux’s Swift;
BARS = Barn Swallow;
CLSW = Cliff Swallow

What is behind the sharp declines?

Pesticide use may be driving declines, either through direct ingestion or by depleting the insect prey base. Reducing pesticide use at homes, gardens, and greenspaces is an important way to help these species. Pet owners should be aware that many topical flea and tick medications are neonicotinoid-based and can enter the environment when animals go outside or are washed. Choosing food grown without pesticides also makes a difference. This extends to birdseed, much of which is grown with intensive pesticide use. 

Habitat loss, including loss of nesting sites, is another driver. Modern buildings are often designed without eaves, with bird exclusion purposely in mind. This can reduce local nesting opportunities for species like Barn Swallows. If aerial insectivores are nesting on your building, consider yourself lucky and do what you can to protect them. 

One species is bucking the trend

The one bright spot is the Western Flycatcher, counts of which have grown exponentially along nearly every forested NBP survey loop in recent years, with overall counts up 572%. Why this species booms while close relatives like Western Wood-pewee or Olive-sided Flycatcher bust isn’t entirely clear. Western Flycatchers make a shorter migration and favor shaded interior forests, so fewer threats along the way, maturing forest at NBP sites, or both may help explain their success. 

WEFL = Western Flycatcher

The only aerial insectivore species analyzed that had upward population trends.

Photo by Jason C Scoggins, Audubon Photo Awards

Why this matters

Local, long-term community science like the Neighborhood Bird Project turns observations into insight. By comparing our regional trends with broader North American datasets, we can see where Seattle’s birds mirror national declines, and where they diverge. This clarity is essential for scientists and conservationists to understand which species are in trouble so we can prioritize habitat protection, reduce harmful practices, or mobilize community action in time. Neighborhood Bird Project data ensures we’re not guessing—it gives us the evidence needed to protect vulnerable species before declines become irreversible.

Magnuson Park Wetlands | Virginia Bound

After more than a year of sustained community advocacy, we’re celebrating a conservation victory at Magnuson Park. Seattle Parks and Recreation has confirmed that it will no longer pursue building outdoor pickleball courts near the restored wetlands in Magnuson Park—a decision that protects vital urban habitat while supporting thoughtful recreation planning across the park.

Instead, Seattle Parks and Recreation is now exploring alternative locations near the Arena Sports building, a site better suited for active recreation and one that minimizes impacts to wildlife, nearby residents, and city resources. This outcome reflects what our community has said all along: we can support recreation without sacrificing restored wetlands and the wildlife that depend on them.

Preferred Pickleball Court Locations at Magnuson Park.

This conservation win didn’t happen overnight. It’s the result of more than a year of dedicated advocacy by community members who showed up again and again to protect the ecological and social value of the Magnuson Park wetlands.

Throughout the campaign, thousands of supporters:

• • Signed petitions calling for wetland protection

  • Testified at public meetings and hearings

  • Wrote to Seattle City Councilmembers and Parks leadership

  • Donated to support advocacy and outreach efforts

  • Distributed informational flyers to neighbors and park users

  • Joined guided outings through the wetlands to better understand what was at stake

Together, these actions made it clear that the restored wetlands are not “unused space,” but a carefully rehabilitated ecosystem that provides habitat for birds and other wildlife, improves water quality, and offers quiet nature access in a dense urban area.

Magnuson Park Advocacy Statistics

The Magnuson Park restored wetlands represent years of ecological restoration work and community investment. They support migratory and resident birds, amphibians, and pollinators, while also serving as a natural buffer that improves stormwater management and climate resilience.

From the beginning, our advocacy emphasized that placing noise-intensive courts adjacent to this sensitive habitat would undermine restoration goals and diminish the quality of life for both wildlife and nearby residents. The decision to step back from the wetland site affirms the importance of planning recreation in harmony with nature.

Advocacy Outing | Elaine Chuang

We are deeply grateful to everyone who stood up for the wetlands at Magnuson Park. This victory belongs to the people who took time out of busy lives to speak up for birds, green space, and future generations.

Advocacy doesn’t end with a decision, it continues through connection, stewardship, and care. We invite you to join us for a Wetland Appreciation Outing with our Conservation Director on Saturday, February 21 at 10:00 a.m.

This gathering is a chance to celebrate what we’ve protected, reflect on the power of community action, and spend time together in the very place that inspired this year-long campaign.

Protecting the Magnuson Park wetlands shows what’s possible when people come together with a shared vision for conservation and community well-being. As Seattle continues to grow, this win sets an important precedent: urban nature is not expendable.

Thank you for being part of this effort. We look forward to continuing the work together.

Anna’s Hummingbird | Kevin Rees | Audubon Photography Awards 

If you’ve ever watched a chickadee dart in for a sunflower seed or a hummingbird hover at your feeder, you’ve experienced one of the simplest joys of connecting with nature. Feeding birds is one of the most popular ways people engage with wildlife. But as bird populations face global decline, many are asking: Is feeding birds helping or harming them?

The truth is nuanced. Decades of research show that feeding birds has mixed impacts. Some of these impacts are positive, some negative, and many depend on the species, location, and timing.

Black-capped Chickadee | Kelli Westfal | Audubon Photography Awards

On the positive side, birds with access to feeders often show better health, stronger body condition, and improved breeding success. Feeder-watching also fuels large-scale community science projects like Project FeederWatch, which has expanded our understanding of bird ecology across North America.

Yet, there are risks. Disease transmission increases when birds congregate at feeders, and improper feeder hygiene can spread illnesses such as salmonellosis or conjunctivitis. Feeders can also increase the risk of a bird-window collision and attract predators or rodents. In some cases, feeding may even shift migration patterns or change which species dominate a local ecosystem.

In short: feeding changes bird behavior and ecology in complex ways.

House Sparrow and European Starling | Bevi Chagnon | Audubon Photography Awards

The Impacts You Don’t See: Where Bird Seed Comes From

Feeding doesn’t just affect the birds in your backyard. Many popular feed ingredients, like sunflower seeds and corn, are grown using neonicotinoid pesticides (insecticides that are highly toxic to pollinators) and chemical bird deterrents that harm wild bird populations far from our homes. These chemicals are linked to declines in insect-eating bird species because they decimate their natural food sources. Choosing pesticide-free or ethically grown bird seed is one way we can help reduce this impact.

Dark-eyed Junco | Dori Eldridge | Audubon Photography Awards

Why We Still Feed: Connection and Conservation

Despite the complexity, feeding birds remains one of the most accessible and enjoyable ways for people to connect with birds. During the pandemic, interest in bird feeding soared. Watching bird behavior provides comfort, wonder, and a sense of stewardship that can inspire lifelong conservation habits. For many communities, especially those with limited access to green spaces, bird feeders offer a window into the natural world that might otherwise remain out of reach.

Rufous Hummingbird | Chase Weinholtz | Audubon Photography Awards

How You Can Feed Birds Responsibly

If you make the choice to feed birds, please do so in a way that keeps our feathered friends safe. Here are some simple guidelines you can follow at home:

• Keep feeders clean: Wash them regularly to prevent disease transmission and remove moldy, wet, and spoiled seed.
• Clean up under feeders daily: Prevent rodent attraction and seed spoilage.
• Keep cats indoors: Outdoor, free-ranging cats are the number one cause of direct, human-related bird mortality in North America.
• Place feeders at safe distances from windows: Keep them close to windows (within 3 feet), or far from windows (more than 30 feet) to reduce bird-window collisions.
• Use native plants: Supplement feeders with shrubs and trees that provide natural food sources.
• Buy ethical seed: Look for pesticide-free, bird-safe, or locally sourced options.

Feeding birds isn’t just about watching wildlife, it’s about caring for it. By feeding responsibly, we can ensure this beloved tradition continues to bring joy without harming the birds we cherish.

Mature trees on a private lot in Seattle

Birds Connect Seattle was named as a stakeholder in an Executive Order from Mayor Harrell calling for more incentives to preserve trees on private property. That Mayor Harrell prioritized this issue during his reelection campain shows that urban forestry is becoming a voting issue in Seattle.

Elevating tree protection onto the political agenda has taken years of sustained advocacy by many individuals and organizations. We’re encouraged by this progress as we continue working to protect mature trees, expand our urban forest, and ensure that the benefits of tree canopy are distributed equitably across the city.

Why this matters now

Seattle is aiming to grow its tree canopy cover to 30% by 2037, but the most recent tree canopy cover assessment shows we’re backsliding: Seattle’s tree canopy cover was 28.1 % in 2021, down from 28.6 % in 2016.

The assessment also revealed a troubling equity gap: communities of color and communities with lower incomes not only had less tree cover to begin with, they also lost more tree canopy over that period.

While this new executive order is a step in the right direction, we’ll need much more to reverse tree canopy loss and address the worsening canopy equity conditions, especially in the face of accelerating climate change.

What we’re celebrating and what we’re committing to

With this executive order in place, we are celebrating:

• A clearer signal from the city government that trees on private property are just as valuable as those in parks or other public lands.

• A reinforcement of our shared commitment to protect mature trees and grow the canopy in neighborhoods that have been historically underserved.

• The result of years of your support: advocacy, planting projects, community outreach, policy work. Without you, our community of advocates and members, outcomes like this would not be possible.

But we also know this is not the finish line. We’re committing to:

• Working with the city and Mayor-elect Wilson to develop new policies for property owners, developers, and public agencies to improve tree preservation on private land.

• Drawing on our firsthand experience to help develop recommendations for a new city-supported urban tree conservation easement program.

• Emphasizing the need for increased tree-planting and protection in communities where canopy cover is lowest to address widening tree canopy disparities.

• Supporting policy and regulatory tools that align growth and housing needs with tree canopy preservation—so that our city can grow and remain green and resilient.

Red-winged Blackbird | Donald Quintana | Audubon Photography Awards 

We all have a role to play in safeguarding birds for future generations. Here are ten ways we can all help save birds. 

Image courtesy of Seattle Parks Foundation

We are proud to partner with Seattle Parks Foundation, Cascade Bicycle Club, Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust, and Transportation Choices Coalition to present a Climate Forum at the Bitter Lake Community Center on Thursday, October 16, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. This event will feature a moderated conversation between Seattle Mayoral and King County Executive Candidates, with questions pertaining to some of the most important issues that impact our climate including equity of access to parks and public spaces, tree canopy, climate readiness, transportation, and more. This event will be live-streamed. Learn more and register, we hope to see you there.

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.

Joshua Morris leads a Bird and Advocacy Outing at Magnuson Park | Sarah Hankins

On April 3, 2025, Birds Connect Seattle celebrated the advancement of Joshua Morris as its new Conservation Director.

For the past six years, Josh has served as Birds Connect Seattle’s Urban Conservation Manager. In that role, he initiated the organization’s Bird-Safe Cities campaign and launched the Seattle Bird Collision Monitoring Project; created the Nature of Your Neighborhood series and website to connect communities with urban nature; guided Seattle’s Urban Forestry Commission through a period of significant policy reform; and successfully advocated for Seattle Parks and Recreation to update its integrated pest management policy to restrict the use of toxic rodenticides harmful to birds and other wildlife.

Josh brings deep experience in conservation science, environmental policy, and political advocacy to this expanded leadership role. He is honored by the opportunity and looks forward to working with the amazing Birds Connect Seattle community to grow the organization’s conservation program. When asked about his long-term vision, he said:

“I want birders to have as much power and influence at City Hall as the development and real estate lobby does.”

Before joining Birds Connect Seattle, Josh worked as a project scientist with The Nature Conservancy in California, assessing the vulnerability of coastal habitats to sea level rise. His entree into birding happened unexpectedly during a visit to the UC Santa Cruz Arboretum. A large, brown bird with a long, curved bill leapt out of a bush. Back at home, he pawed through an old Sibley’s Field Guide and identified it as a California Thrasher. Spark!

Josh holds bachelor’s degrees in biochemistry and neurobiology from the University of Washington, a master’s in international environmental policy from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, and a certificate in applied quantitative ecology from the Center for Wildlife Studies. He is a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (Cameroon, 2011–2013) and lives in Seattle’s Madison Valley neighborhood with his partner, also a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (Togo, 2012–2014), and their indoor cat, Neo.

Rats | Bernie Hawes | Canva

A 2021 pilot project between Birds Connect Seattle and Seattle Parks & Recreation has taken flight and is reducing harm to countless birds.  

by Carol Roll, Development Director

In cities across the world, and especially ratty ones like Seattle, rats are a persistent challenge. They scurry through parks; burrow elaborate tunnels and make their homes in urban spaces where food is plentiful. While rats are a nuisance and a health risk to humans, they also pose a significant risk to wildlife—particularly birds. For years, the use of poisons to control rodent populations has been commonplace in Seattle neighborhoods, inadvertently poisoning birds and other animals that prey on the rats or consume contaminated carcasses. But in 2021, a partnership between Birds Connect Seattle (BCS), the Capitol Hill EcoDistrict, and Seattle Parks and Recreation (SP&R) launched a groundbreaking initiative that is not only more effective in rat control but also saving birds. 

The Hidden Dangers of Traditional Rodent Control 

Traditional rodent control methods often rely on the use of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs), a class of poisons that disrupt blood clotting in rodents, causing them to die slowly from internal bleeding. These poisons are highly toxic, long-lasting, and, tragically, they don’t just kill rats. SGARs have been detected in the tissues of over 100 local species, including more than 70 bird species, as well as numerous mammals and even slugs. Because rats are a primary food source for many birds of prey—like hawks and owls—the toxins spread through the food chain, poisoning animals that eat the rodents or their remains. 

BCS and other wildlife conservation organizations have long pushed for safer alternatives to SGARs. Our advocacy laid the groundwork for this collaboration with SP&R. 

Bait boxes, like this one, often contain harmful SGARs.

The Birth of a Safer Solution: CO2 Rat Control 

In 2021, thanks to funding from BCS via our Capitol Hill Connections Project, SP&R began testing a novel rodent control method through one of the pest control contractors at Cal Anderson Park. This approach, which uses carbon dioxide (CO2) gas to suffocate rats in their burrows, was a game-changer. 

The process is simple but highly effective. The rat burrows are sealed, leaving only one entrance open. A canister of CO2 is then inserted into the hole, and the gas fills the burrow, leaving the rats without oxygen. This method is effective for reducing rat populations while ensuring that no poisoned carcasses are left behind to endanger scavenging wildlife, such as birds.  

Another key benefit of the CO2 method is its precision. Unlike poison bait stations, which are often indiscriminate and leave dangerous residues in the environment, CO2 treatment targets the rats directly within their burrows. 

Not only does the CO2 method offer a safer alternative for birds, it comes at a similar price tag as traditional methods. Rodent birth control and other high-tech solutions are an emerging market but can be expensive. CO2 treatment has proven to be a reliable, maintainable, and affordable way to manage rat populations. 

Expanding the CO2 Program Across Seattle Parks 

The success of the pilot program at Cal Anderson and subsequent other parks including Woodland, Denny, and Albert Davis Parks prompted Seattle Parks and Recreation to expand the use of CO2-based rat control throughout more of Seattle’s parks. By 2024, the method is now being utilized in over 40 parks across the city, reports Bridget Kelsh, IPM and Wildlife Coordinator at Seattle Parks and Recreation. 
These specific parks were selected for CO2 utilization because of their generally high rat populations and because human activity is most concentrated, resulting in more food sources for rats—food waste, and accessible garbage. While some additional parks meet this high food source = high rat population criteria, not all parks are good candidates for this method. If a park has a lot of buildings surrounding rat burrows this method of treatment remains difficult to use because rat burrows often continue below buildings. While the risk is low, CO2 can leak upwards from burrows and so it is important to avoid the gas seeping up into buildings, especially occupied ones.  

In areas like 12th Avenue Square the CO2 method has been combined with landscape changes such as reducing shrub beds and keeping park areas clear of debris like leaves and low tree limbs—measures that also reduce places for rats to hide. 

Redesigning their trash cans has also been an important way to reduce attracting rats in the first place. The new design with a metal base and sides, and straight side that can’t be climbed by rodents in combination with frequent garbage pick-up services has reduced rodent food sources in parks.  

Not all Seattle Parks are good candidates for this method. In the parks where this CO2 treatment isn’t a good option SP&R is using several other bird-friendly methods including: 

• • Opting for no treatment because rodent populations are in balance and/or not a concern. Usually these are less utilized parks where there are fewer food sources. 

• • Setting out small (non-poison) food sources so they can see where the rats are visiting and feeding first and then respond appropriately with strategically placed snap traps at feeding locations and along the edges of buildings where CO2 treatment is less practical. 

SP&R’s current policy prevents the use of SGARs, however, they admit they use many different subcontractors to support their operations over 6,400 acres of parkland. Their next phase of focus will be to ensure each of these contractors will be adhering to their current policies for pesticide and rodenticide usage. Either way, the expansion of the CO2 program and their work with their pest control contractors has greatly reduced the amount of SGARs and other wildlife-harming chemicals being used across the city.  

Cooper’s Hawk | Matthew Sabouri | Audubon Photography Awards

A Model for the Future 

This partnership between BCS and SP&R is a model for cities looking to balance effective rodent control with wildlife conservation. With more than 485 parks under the management of Seattle Parks and Recreation, the collaboration is helping to set new standards for urban wildlife protection. 

Importantly, this success story has caught the attention of other agencies and groups. The King County Public Health Department is working alongside SP&R and other city departments to improve rat management strategies through cross-education and collaboration. They are even developing a Rodent Work Group to bring together experts from various sectors—including housing, parks, and utilities—to develop more integrated solutions for managing rat populations and protecting wildlife. 

Saving Birds, One Park at a Time 

The partnership between Birds Connect Seattle and Seattle Parks and Recreation proves that it’s possible to control rat populations effectively without resorting to harmful poisons. By adopting the CO2 method, Seattle is setting a new precedent for bird-friendly, sustainable urban pest management. And as more parks continue to adopt this approach, more birds will be protected from the dangers of secondary poisoning. 

The success of this initiative demonstrates the power of collaboration between environmental organizations, city agencies, and local communities. Together, they are creating safer spaces for both people and wildlife, one park at a time.