Shifting baseline syndrome is real. I remember back to growing up on a farm in North Dakota. I go back and see the loss of things once common - wood lilies, meadowlarks and shorebirds. They will be difficult to get back, but the tools are there if the people are willing.
Sadly, shifting baseline syndrome is very real and you offer a perfect (and heartbreaking) example of it. Someone who grew up on that North Dakota farm today might have no idea that wood lilies, meadowlarks, and shorebirds used to be so abundant there. That's why I think it's so important for all of us to tell our stories (since there just aren't enough scientists to study it all). Your botany work is a critical contribution to our knowledge base. And yes, we have the tools. We just need the commitment, the funding, the personnel, and the public support to carry these things out.
Thanks for this Sophie. Shifting baseline syndrome is SO important to consider (though I didn’t know the term). Many people don’t realize that the syndrome is basically codified in NOAA climate “normals” in the US, which are periodically recalculated to encompass only 3 recent decades. It’s also similar to something I noted in my most recent paper—we often assume, without much reflection, that species that were present when biologists first started studying an ecosystem are native, even when it’s not true.
I didn't know that about NOAA! That's a bit terrifying. And you raise such an important point that biologists who begin studying an ecosystem view it as the norm (the baseline) despite all of the changes humanity might already have caused to that ecosystem. Your important work with crayfish in Montana is such a case in point here! Thank you for that incredible work! And a shoutout to Daniel Pauly, a FISHERIES biologist for bringing the important "shifting baseline syndrome" concept to the world's attention. D Pauly, "Anecdotes and the Shifting Baseline Syndrome of Fisheries," Trends in Ecology and Evolution 10, no. 10: 430. If you're not familiar with him, check out his biography too. An amazing biologist and person.
Two friends and I had dinner last week and discussed this phenomenon. Two of us lived next to horse farms until we were 7 or 8 years old. Then they were developed into subdivisions. And I see horses very rarely. Lovely essay, Sophie.
Great to have your perspectives and memories regarding this phenomenon, Russell! I'm glad people are talking about this. And thanks for the kind words!
Well done, Sophie! I remember in 1994 when I found my first active bald eagle nest. It was, at that time, not nearly as often to see as it is now, and I was beyond thrilled. Weeks later, I saw my first peregrine ripping across the Wyoming sky, also still uncommon at that time. So there is hope! Yesterday I found my second active bald eagle nest of the year, giving hope to spring on a 58 degree March day, even though a week of snow and cold is now forecast. May spring be on the horizon of the avian populations that currently struggle, and may the A'lala grace the skies over Hawaii for centuries to come!
Thank you, Diane! The abundance of Bald Eagles in my neighborhood definitely give me hope! And I hope that their comeback and the peregrine's comeback are signs of things to come for other struggling birds! Thanks for pulling for the 'Alala! : )
It never ceases to amaze me how early Bald Eagles start nesting. And you are a champion at finding their nests! : ) Happy early Spring!
I have heard and read from older birders that there were far more birds when they were young. Yet another reason to respect the experience and knowledge of those who lived and birded before us. As always, this is a beautifully written piece, with recommendations I hope many will follow!
Learning about shifting baseline syndrome has made me value people's stories from long ago more than ever before. These stories and memories have immense value and, sadly, do provide an important record of what has been lost.
Great read! I love it when birds are hiding in plain sight! Sadly all the gains some species have made stand to be lost with this current administrations lack of response to bird flu and their indiscriminate axing of so many federal programs.
I'm definitely profoundly worried about the impact of the avian flu on birds and the cuts to so many federal programs. The latter could seriously harm our bird conservation efforts.
Shifting baseline syndrome is real. I remember back to growing up on a farm in North Dakota. I go back and see the loss of things once common - wood lilies, meadowlarks and shorebirds. They will be difficult to get back, but the tools are there if the people are willing.
Sadly, shifting baseline syndrome is very real and you offer a perfect (and heartbreaking) example of it. Someone who grew up on that North Dakota farm today might have no idea that wood lilies, meadowlarks, and shorebirds used to be so abundant there. That's why I think it's so important for all of us to tell our stories (since there just aren't enough scientists to study it all). Your botany work is a critical contribution to our knowledge base. And yes, we have the tools. We just need the commitment, the funding, the personnel, and the public support to carry these things out.
Thanks for this Sophie. Shifting baseline syndrome is SO important to consider (though I didn’t know the term). Many people don’t realize that the syndrome is basically codified in NOAA climate “normals” in the US, which are periodically recalculated to encompass only 3 recent decades. It’s also similar to something I noted in my most recent paper—we often assume, without much reflection, that species that were present when biologists first started studying an ecosystem are native, even when it’s not true.
I didn't know that about NOAA! That's a bit terrifying. And you raise such an important point that biologists who begin studying an ecosystem view it as the norm (the baseline) despite all of the changes humanity might already have caused to that ecosystem. Your important work with crayfish in Montana is such a case in point here! Thank you for that incredible work! And a shoutout to Daniel Pauly, a FISHERIES biologist for bringing the important "shifting baseline syndrome" concept to the world's attention. D Pauly, "Anecdotes and the Shifting Baseline Syndrome of Fisheries," Trends in Ecology and Evolution 10, no. 10: 430. If you're not familiar with him, check out his biography too. An amazing biologist and person.
Two friends and I had dinner last week and discussed this phenomenon. Two of us lived next to horse farms until we were 7 or 8 years old. Then they were developed into subdivisions. And I see horses very rarely. Lovely essay, Sophie.
Great to have your perspectives and memories regarding this phenomenon, Russell! I'm glad people are talking about this. And thanks for the kind words!
Well done, Sophie! I remember in 1994 when I found my first active bald eagle nest. It was, at that time, not nearly as often to see as it is now, and I was beyond thrilled. Weeks later, I saw my first peregrine ripping across the Wyoming sky, also still uncommon at that time. So there is hope! Yesterday I found my second active bald eagle nest of the year, giving hope to spring on a 58 degree March day, even though a week of snow and cold is now forecast. May spring be on the horizon of the avian populations that currently struggle, and may the A'lala grace the skies over Hawaii for centuries to come!
Thank you, Diane! The abundance of Bald Eagles in my neighborhood definitely give me hope! And I hope that their comeback and the peregrine's comeback are signs of things to come for other struggling birds! Thanks for pulling for the 'Alala! : )
It never ceases to amaze me how early Bald Eagles start nesting. And you are a champion at finding their nests! : ) Happy early Spring!
I have heard and read from older birders that there were far more birds when they were young. Yet another reason to respect the experience and knowledge of those who lived and birded before us. As always, this is a beautifully written piece, with recommendations I hope many will follow!
Learning about shifting baseline syndrome has made me value people's stories from long ago more than ever before. These stories and memories have immense value and, sadly, do provide an important record of what has been lost.
Thank you for the kind words about this piece!
Great read! I love it when birds are hiding in plain sight! Sadly all the gains some species have made stand to be lost with this current administrations lack of response to bird flu and their indiscriminate axing of so many federal programs.
I'm definitely profoundly worried about the impact of the avian flu on birds and the cuts to so many federal programs. The latter could seriously harm our bird conservation efforts.
Love this Soph! 💜 You wrote eloquently about the threats birds are facing but also infused it with hope and optimism. GO BIRDS indeed!!! 🦅