Executive Summary: https://www.stateofthebirds.org/2025/executive-summary/
5 Years After the 3 Billion Birds Lost Research, America Is Still Losing Birds
A 2019 study published in the journal Science sounded the alarm—showing a net loss of 3 billion birds in North America in the past 50 years. The 2025 State of the Birds report shows those losses are continuing, with declines among several bird trend indicators. Notably duck populations—a bright spot in past State of the Birds reports, with strong increases since 1970—have trended downward in recent years.
Population Trend Graphic
Oh, I see.
James Hansen is highly credible, at least as credible as anyone else out there. He seems to enjoy a great degree of freedom at Columbia - but they are still his employer. If his work suddenly took an inexplicable shift toward the mainstream I would consider that a sign that he's receiving more pressure. For now his work is still very damning of the mainstream climate consensus and the political/economic status quo.
Columbia itself (i.e. the admins), not so credible.
Good on you for asking and for keeping your guard up. Hansen has had a very public career and he is commonly discussed in climate collapse groups. It probably won't be the last time you see his name so it might be worth looking into him through other resources and forming your own opinion.
As for Columbia it seems you've already done your research. ;)