The San Francisco Chronicle today reports on testimony before Congress from bird experts who said that habitat loss is resulting in rapid declines for many bird species. Bird experts and conservation groups said that rising food prices and the push for alternative fuels are putting intense pressure on farmland set aside for conservation.

Other killers include invasive plant species that take over native seed and nesting sources, wind turbines located near critical flyways, lighted and glass-encased buildings, lighted cell-phone towers, domestic cats, disease, pesticides and climate change, which also is shrinking habitat ranges.

Formerly common birds that are deemed particularly threatened by these latest trends include: Western Meadowlark, Northern Bobwhite, Rufous Hummingbird, Whip-poor-will, and the Loggerhead Shrike.