Decreasing woodland bird population needs closer monitoring, says Island Nature Trust

There's been a big drop in the number of woodland birds on P.E.I. according to recent surveys, saysthe Island Nature Trust.

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The surveys aren't part of a structured monitoring program, but the group saidit's seeing a general trend towards fewer forest birds across the Island.

"If we're not out there on the ground, these things catch up to us," said Megan Harris, the executive director of the trust.

"And before we realize what's going on, we're trying to scramble to fix something that we don't fully understand."

'Build up a program'

The organization wants to conduct a scientific study in spring 2017.

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"What I would like to see next year is us starting a program of working in the forested natural areas that we have owned by the province as well as Island Nature Trust to build up a program of monitoring again," Harris said.

There's no way to know what all of the effects are of a declining bird population, Harris added, but she believes they could include increased insect populations as well as problems with reseeding of forests an important role that many of these birds play.

The non-profitgroupis now applying for funding for the proposed monitoring project, Harris said.

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