There are several theories about the origins of the quaint phrase &#x93;the birds and the bees,&#x94; which today usually refers to our fumbling attempts to explain procreation to children. Since this column is loosely based on beautifying Lee&#x92;s Summit, however, we&#x92;re using it literally. We should all care about birds and bees because of their critical roles in pollinating flowers and food crops, as well as the beauty they add to our world. Everything in nature, even a lowly parasite, has its purpose and, as interdependent as we are, a threat to any species can be a threat to all.</p><p>It&#x92;s a fact: Songbirds and bees, from Kansas City to Katmandu, are facing serious threats, causing their numbers to decline. While scientists search for global solutions, there are a few easy things each of us can do locally to help endangered species. </p><p>First, the birds. According to Audubon&#x92;s State of The Birds (http://stateofthebirds.audubon.org/) many bird species are declining at alarming rates and the threats they face are numerous. A primary cause for their decline is habitat loss as we shift toward large corporate farms, urban sprawl and loss of rainforests and prairies. Our insatiable demand for paper products also decreases forest habitats for birds.</p><p>Their remaining habitat is often unsuitable or even deadly. Even though the U.S. has banned many toxic pesticides, when birds that breed in North America spend the winter in Central and South America they are exposed to these deadly chemicals, of which a single application, according to the EPA, can kill up to 25 songbirds per acre. We can help by supporting local farmers (being &#x93;locavores&#x94;) and purchasing sustainably grown coffee and paper products. Get in the habit of visiting farmers markets and reading labels.</p><p>Surprisingly, the second greatest threat to birds is collisions with man-made structures. It is estimated that a billion birds die each year in the U.S. alone due to window strikes. Old Charley, a crow who used to dive bomb my office window, defied the odds; he would just circle around and hit it again repeatedly. One thing homeowners can do is hang bird feeders away from the house, so their momentum won&#x92;t carry hungry birds straight into the window glass. Various &#x93;anti-bird&#x94; window films are sometimes worthwhile.</p><p>The third major threat to birds may be your pet. A study by the University of Wisconsin surveyed cat owners and found that their cats killed on average one bird per week. Extrapolating this number for over 100 million U.S. cats would mean billions of birds lost to house cats each year. To protect birds, keep cats indoors.</p><p>Even more dangerous than the decline in birds is the worldwide crisis relating to bees. Bees have done quite well for millions of years, but in recent years U.S. beekeepers have seen unprecedented losses, some losing up to 80 percent of their colonies. An estimated 90 percent of the wild bee population in the United States has also died out, so healthy commercial bee colonies are critical to pollinate approximately $15 billion worth of U.S. food crops. Agronomists estimate bees are responsible for one-third of the American diet. That&#x92;s one in three bites of food! </p><p>You may have read about Colony Collapse Disorder, a mysterious condition where the bees disappear without a trace. A consensus is emerging that CCD is complex and probably due to the a combination of stress factors including pesticides and other chemicals, severe weather, lack of wildflowers, and the presence of several disease organisms. </p><p>University of California-Davis entomologist Eric Mussen thinks the problems come from a lack of wild flowers nationwide. Florida beekeepers say citrus growers are compounding the problem by spraying pesticides to kill off a dangerous pest that menaces fruit trees, wiping out bees at the same time. A series of hurricanes, including Katrina in 2005, destroyed thousands of honey bee colonies and decimated the vital Gulf Coast bee industry. Whatever the causes, wild and commercial bees and more than 100 species of birds are considered threatened or extinct by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, a network that includes scientists, government agencies and non-governmental organizations from around the world. </p><p>I really don&#x92;t like the prospect of losing &#x93;one of every three bites,&#x94; especially when those bites are my favorite fruits, vegetables and nuts. Can we each do a little to help the birds and the bees? Be a locavore, keep the cat inside, use bird feeders (away from the windows) and be careful with pesticides. You can make a difference. Carol Rothwell is a Lee&#x92;s Summit resident and serves on the Lee&#x92;s Summit Beautification Commission and Tree Board.