Each May, we celebrate American Wetlands Month to shine a light on these special ecosystems that provide clean water, flood protection, and critical habitat for plants, fish, and wildlife.
This year also marks the 50th anniversary of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Wetland Inventory Program, a vital tool for tracking wetlands across the United States, including right here in King County. You can learn more about this work and check out status and trends in the NWI’s 50th anniversary Storymap. The NWI includes a wetland inventory that was developed by King County and adopted by the USFWS in 2024.
Wetlands and birds: a connection to care about
Knowing where wetlands are and how they are changing over time is key to protecting these natural resources and the species that rely on them. Migratory birds, for example, need wetland habitats for breeding, molting, and wintering. Like wetlands, birds provide vital ecological services. They pollinate plants, disperse seeds, control pests – all important roles that benefit the environment and people.
Unfortunately, wetland areas and bird populations are both decreasing. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s 2009–2019 Wetlands Status and Trends report found that more than half of wetlands in the lower 48 states are gone, with losses increasing by over 50% since 2009. As of 2019, wetlands covered less than 6% of the U.S., half the area they did in the 1780s. Previous studies found that up to half of North American bird species and about 80% of protected birds depend on wetlands, and that wetland loss is likely an important driver of bird population declines.
Here in King County, bird counts in Seattle-area parks dropped by 21% between 2005 and 2023, according to a report from Birds Connect Seattle. Their analysis of Neighborhood Bird Project data found that species diversity fell 18%, with 58% of tracked species in decline. Key drivers noted include habitat loss, tree canopy reduction, and shoreline changes. Even localized changes like removing nesting sites from a building, adding certain vegetation, or altering shorelines can have cascading negative impacts for birds and ecosystems.
Taking action is for the birds (and for us!)
Protecting and restoring wetlands is essential. By caring for wetlands, we also help wildlife and… ourselves.
If you’re ready to learn, explore, and get involved, we’ve made it easy to get started:
- Learn about the wetlands of King County
- Visit a wetland using the ‘Wetland Walks’ filter in King County’s interactive map.
- Volunteer to help restore wetlands, shorelines, riparian areas, and parks
- Get to know the Society of Wetland Scientists (including our resident wetland ecologist) to learn about local wetland events
