According to the American Birding Association, 947 species of birds can be found in the United States at some time in the year. This is an astonishing ten percent of the total number of bird species found in the world. Areas such as the Gulf Prairies/Marshes, Pineywoods, Eastern Deciduous forests, Great Plains, Prairie Potholes, Brushlands and Deserts provides the country with a lot of different habitats, thus allowing many types of birds to live here.

During the Spring and Fall, areas such as Houston Audubon Society's Boy Scout Woods and Smith Oaks play an important role in bird migration. The Gulf of Mexico coastline and wetlands provide ducks with wintering grounds, while the prairie pothole regions in the Great Plains provide breeding grounds for ducks. For example, in Texas, birders from all over the world come to visit birding hotspots such as Big Bend National Park, High Island, World Birding Center, Aransas National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) and Santa Ana NWR.

As we examine bird populations, we are also finding out that many species are declining. We have already lost one of the great wildlife spectacles in the world, the Passenger Pigeon. How many times have you experienced a bird flock so large that it darkened the skies? Today, many species common species have suffered big declines in population. Birds such as the Greater Scaup, Red Knot, Evening Grosbeak, Northern Bobwhite and Eastern Meadowlarks are all common species that have decreased at least 70% since 1967.

If you are interested on the current conservation status of birds, please read the 2009 State of the Birds report by American Bird Conservancy, Audubon, nabci, The Nature Conservancy, US Fish and Wildlife Service, USGS, Partners in Flight and many other organizations. Another good resource is Partners in Flight's North American Landbird Conservation Plan.