In considering the best way to safeguard the bird population, the most important aspect is their habitat.  If a birds habitat is destroyed, as is often the case, the bird has little chance of survival.  Yes, banning hunting in places where the population is threatened is important, as is protection of the nesting period and protection of their food supply – but habitats are the root of many of these secondary priorities.

In particular, coastal habitats are perhaps the most at risk to degradation, by nature of them being a shared bird-human habitat.  The Audubon Society counts this specific relationship as one of its five core efforts in protection of bird populations.  I have seen this often, as the Audubon Society has a wildlife preserve and education center in Wellfleet, Mass. (on Cape Cod).  The efforts of this group to protect birds that are nesting on the coast and preserve the dunes and grasses that they rely upon for survival, despite the relentless efforts by humans do degrade these natural habitats.

In protecting natural habitats, a combination of wildlife preserves and responsible sharing is the best path forward.  The Audubon Society cites “sharing our seas and shores” as its goal for marine bird preservation, one that is meaningful in conjunction with preservation of those shared habitats.  The key to all other defense and preservation of birds is protection of habitat, after which several other secondary efforts can be made to truly safeguard these populations.

https://www.audubon.org/conservation