Bald eagles and other birds' behavior may have changed due to COVID lockdowns, study finds

Decreased human mobility during the COVID-19 pandemic may have affected North American birds' activity, according to a new study. Two research teams from the University of Manitoba and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology examined records of around 4.3 million birds between the months of March and May in the years 2017 through 2020. 

The results were overwhelming. During the pandemic, 80% of the 82 species studied were found in significantly greater numbers closer to human-inhabited areas, including within 62 miles of cities, major highways and airports, as compared to pre-pandemic levels. 

"A lot of species we really care about became more abundant in human landscapes during the pandemic," Nicola Koper of the University of Manitoba said. "I was blown away by how many species were affected by decreased traffic and activity during lockdowns."