California's pheasants, once abundant in the golden state, are now disappearing due to habitat fragmentation and potential genetic weakening from inbreeding with farm-raised birds.
Ian A. Dwight, principal investigator, emphasized that pheasants were integral to California's hunting culture, marking a trend in the alarming decline of wildlife populations.
To combat dwindling numbers, researchers are gathering genetic data from pheasants in hopes of finding solutions, including habitat improvements and increasing genetic diversity.
The overall decline in bird populations is alarming: almost one-third of wild birds in the U.S. and Canada have vanished since 1970, highlighting a crisis.
#wildlife-conservation #pheasant-population #habitat-fragmentation #genetic-diversity #bird-population-decline
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