About Those Birds

If you think climate change (global warming) is a hoax set by the government – then you probably should learn the science behind it. It’s really not that difficult to understand and climate change is not a hoax. It’s real and we are causing a great portion of it (not all like some extremists believe). Anyway, climate change is a major threat to many bird species because their environment will change too fast for them to adapt and they will most likely die. This is not good. The Italian Bird Protection League (LIPU) has listed five species that are in critical danger from climate change. Also, half of bird species that reside in the mountains (88 actually nest in Italy) urgently need protection – now.

The rock ptarmigan is a traditional symbol representing Italy’s mountains, but it’s also a species that is majorly vulnerable to climate change. From a 2-degree (I’m assuming C) temperature increase in the mountainous areas has reduced the population of rock ptarmigans to just 5000. Another degree increase would be very bad because the birds would be forced to find colder, more northern climates.

The other species listed by LIPU to be endangered by climate change in Italy are the Egyptian vulture, great bittern, little bustard, and Cory’s shearwater.

The Egyptian vulture only has seven pairs living in southern Italy, there are 50 pairs of great bitterns, and 750 pairs of little bustards left in Italy.

Climate change is not the only factor affecting these birds. Farming, overfishing, and wetland disruption are also major contributing factors to their decline. The five birds were not chosen just because they are at great risk, but because their environments are at great risk. These environments are important to human culture and if birds are not able to live and thrive in them, then how can humans?

Pictured: top – Egyptian vulture, second – great bittern, third – rock ptarmigan, fourth – little bustard, last – Cory’s shearwater.

Birds are the visible harbingers of change. When their patterns change, everything is changing, such as their migration patterns. We all know that birds migrate in the winter and spring, but recent studies have shown that birds are migrating differently in recent times due to the changing climate. A recent article from the Chipley Bugle in Florida discusses a study that has noticed these changes from the past few decades.

Lately, new information has come in that birds are changing their migration patterns to overcome the warmer climates, both in fall and in spring.

Elena Sachs from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Florida Bird Conservation Initiative states that “we see trends in birds first because it is so easy to see.”

Studies done during the past 40 years demonstrate that certain species are affected by warmer climates and their migration patterns are now different. According to NOAA, the average temperatures for January rose by about 5oF in the four decades. Also, thanks to Christmas Bird Counts, nearly 305 species have moved north to cooler temperatures. Changes in precipitation have also affected birds. Another problem with warming temperatures is that birds will go back to breeding grounds too early in the year. They might find colder temperatures than they are used to and they may not survive.

Overall, the warming climate is not conducive for many animals, including birds, because they do not have the time to adapt fast enough. Climate affects all parts of the globe, not just North America, and we can’t change animal behavior, but we can try to limit the effects of climate change. So participate in conservation efforts when you can and do anything you can to help save our beautiful birds.

‘Till next time – enjoy!

Whether you have no idea what climate change is or don’t care to believe it, here’s a sobering article about the future of bird species in California. In a September 2, 2009 article by the San Francisco Chronicle, a study was released stating the future of birds in California is uncertain due to climate change. Click here for the full article. The study is only a prediction, but that doesn’t mean what they predict can’t happen. This research, conducted by the PRBO (Point Reyes Bird Observatory) Conservation Science, basically states that bird species will either have to adapt or die. They concluded that birds communities will change. This doesn’t mean less birds in a certain community, but the composition of those birds in that community will not be like what we see today. This loss of biodiversity is really what plagues the world today in terms of climate change. We are going through another great extinction.

These are a few points the research concluded upon:

• Birds will have to move to different habitats, they could negatively impact birds that were already in those habitats
  
• As Point Reyes Peninsula gets drier and less foggy, birds such as the California thrasher, rufous-crowned sparrow, and the ash-throated flycatcher will move there. These birds will meet with new birds already on the Peninsula, such as the purple finch and the black-throated grey warbler
• The white-crowned sparrow will decline by about 76%
• The varied thrush will decline by about 87%
• The yellow-billed magpie will decline by about 32%
• Many forest dwelling birds will decline, however birds like the acorn woodpecker may increase

John Wiens makes a good argument by saying, “Birds are nature’s barometers. If birds occur in different combinations in the future, it’s likely that other organisms such as insects and plants will as well. The reshuffling of bird assemblages that we project may just be the tip of the iceberg.”

That thought is rather saddening, but it makes sense. It’s difficult to gauge many species because they aren’t visible, but you know they’re there. Birds are very conspicuous. When they disappear, warning bells should go off.

This study was only done on a small part of California, but it hopes to expand to about 300 birds that are seen in California. Hopefully, that news won’t be as depressing.

If you would like to learn more, go to the PRBO site and their Avian Data Center site.

‘Till next time – please help conserve our bird diversity!

-Pictured – the varied thrush