Climate Change and Birds: A Complete Guide

Climate change and global warming have been a contentious topic, but there is evidence that temperatures are rising and weather patterns are changing, affecting birds all over the world.

Climate change has accelerated to unprecedented levels due to the burning of fossil fuels, the resulting release of carbon dioxide gas, and the warming of the planet due to a process known as the greenhouse effect.

So how exactly is climate change affecting birds?

Climate change is affecting the patterns and timing of bird migration, shrinking the global ranges of species and expanding the ranges of others. Some birds are better adapted than others, but nearly all life on Earth could be affected.

Birds are highly mobile animals, which enables them to move to different areas as conditions change. However, simply moving to greener pastures is not an option for many species, and mass extinction is a distinct possibility if climate change is not addressed.

Now more than ever, birds need our help. It’s easy to feel hopeless because global problems seem too big for our full attention, but change starts with all of us and there is so much we can do!

Read on to learn how climate change is affecting bird habitats and lifestyles. We’ll also cover some simple tips on how you can do your part in reducing the impact of climate change on birds.

A group of Pied Ostercatchers fly over the estuary marshes in the Waddensea UNESCO World Heritage Area

How is climate change affecting birds?

Each bird species is uniquely adapted to specific environmental conditions. Ecological research tells us that every species exists in an environment shaped by a variety of interrelated factors such as climate, geology, altitude and latitude.

These conditions determine the type of life that can call each part of our world home. Furthermore, the collection of species living in an area interacts in complex ways, and birds are no exception.

Climate change can affect birds through direct physical mechanisms, such as covering breeding grounds in water. It also throws the entire ecosystem out of balance and indirectly affects birds. Climate change is forcing birds to adapt, migrate to new places, or go extinct. Of course, some species are more resilient and adaptable than others, but there are limits to variation in any bird species.

A pair of Adélie penguins enjoying the Antarctic sun

How is climate change affecting bird migration?

Climate change is affecting bird migration in a number of ways. In many cases, the routes and timing of migratory birds have changed, and birds are also spending winters and summers farther north than before.

A study of 32 migratory songbird species in North America found that, over the past 33 years, the average spring arrival date has moved earlier by 0.78 days per year. This trend is associated with warming of the bird’s breeding grounds earlier each year.

However, the birds not only arrived earlier, but also stayed longer as the onset of winter was delayed.

How is climate change affecting food for birds?

The same climate change that affects birds affects the plants and animals they depend on. Important plant species may disappear from certain areas, or the timing of their nectar, fruit and seed production may change.

As temperatures rise, plants bloom earlier. That means the supply of insects will also peak earlier. Some migratory birds time their migrations based on weather systems rather than food availability.

Climate change has changed how these two factors synchronize, forcing some birds to migrate without accumulating enough fat reserves to make the long journey south.

Arctic terns make one of the most impressive migrations every year

How is climate change affecting bird reproduction?

Most birds schedule their breeding to be at the most favorable time of year in terms of weather and food availability. Some birds are now adjusting their breeding times to account for an earlier warmer spring.

Scientists from India analyzed 820,000 breeding observations of northern birds and found that the breeding time was significantly earlier and the breeding period was shortened. This means birds breed earlier in the season, and the process is restricted to a shorter period of time.

Rising sea levels are another very real threat to bird breeding. Florida’s breeding grounds for coastal birds such as gull-billed terns and sandwich terns are at increased risk of coastal erosion and even flooded nests by the 2030s.

Of course, this threat also extends to oceanic islands, with species such as the black-backed and black-footed albatrosses that inhabit low-elevation islands at particular risk.

Sandwich terns at increased risk of coastal erosion in Florida

Which birds are most affected by climate change?

Some of the worst-affected birds may be those that inhabit high-altitude mountains. As temperatures rise, these birds are forced to climb higher slopes to stay in their preferred climate zone. This pushes them into smaller and smaller areas, running out of space and time.

Birds that are going extinct due to climate change

No bird species has yet become extinct as a direct result of climate change. The main historical causes of bird extinction are overexploitation for hunting, habitat degradation, and losses from urbanization, agriculture, and deforestation.

These threats continue today, but climate change has added a new dimension to the problem, causing habitat changes on a global scale.

According to current projections, two species of African bird species will soon become extinct due to climate change. Ethiopian bush crows and white-tailed swallows from the “roof of Africa” ​​Ethiopia are expected to disappear within the next 50 years.

White-tailed swallow (Hirundo megaensis)

How many birds are affected by climate change?

All life on Earth is affected in one way or another by climate change. For some species, a warming climate has brought huge benefits, while for others it has spelled disaster. Not all regions and all birds are feeling the changes happening on Earth equally.

The National Audubon Society conducted extensive research on more than 600 species of North American birds and found that nearly two-thirds (64%) of them are vulnerable to extinction.

These are indeed terrible results!

Which birds are most affected by climate change?

Certain bird groups are expected to be hit particularly hard by climate change in North America. According to the National Audubon Society’s modeling, the most vulnerable birds include:

• Arctic birds such as the brown-crested rosefinches
• Northern forest birds such as the Harris sparrow
• Western forest birds such as yellow-billed magpie
• water birds like king geese

Close-up of a king goose

Can birds adapt to climate change?

Birds adapt to climate change in a number of ways. These adaptations include range changes and behavioral and even physical changes. Unfortunately, not all species exhibit the same resilience and flexibility.

Many species are migrating to cooler north, or otherwise to higher elevations. However, simply moving to a new location is not always a good solution, as vegetation and habitat changes take time.

Where bird species have no choice, they must move to less desirable areas, but this puts them in competition with other species and leaves them with fewer resources and less reproductive success.

Read on to learn how to help birds in a changing climate.

Black-footed albatross at risk for nesting on low-altitude islands

How can we help birds during climate change?

It is easy to be overwhelmed by the scale of environmental problems in the world today. In fact, change begins with all citizens, and we can still do a lot. Reducing our dependence on fossil fuels is fundamental to stopping climate change, but there are more immediate ways to help birds, too.

The best thing you can do for birds is to create proper bird habitat in your own backyard or community. Plant native species that provide good nesting habitat, attract insects, and provide a food source in the form of fruits, berries, and seeds. If you have cats, give our feathered friends a fair warning by keeping them indoors, or at least putting a bell on their collar.

You can also get involved with local conservation programs in your area and let your friends and family know about issues facing local birds.

Little goldfinch sits among flowers in the garden

How is climate change affecting gulls?

Gulls and other seabirds are not immune to climate change, but the phenomenon affects different species in different ways. For example, cannibalism is increasing among white-winged gulls in Puget Sound, while smaller black-backed gulls benefit from increased food abundance in the North Sea.

Are birds getting smaller due to climate change?

Surprisingly, research shows birds are shrinking due to climate change. Many species have shrunk in size, which may be a way for birds to keep cool in a warming world. They also grew in wing length, which may have been a way of compensating for a smaller and less muscular body.

Could climate change cause birds’ beaks to get bigger?

Birds are adapting to climate change in some remarkable ways. Some birds are growing larger beaks, which may help regulate body temperature, research suggests. Birds can use their beaks to cool their bodies because they don’t have feathers for insulation.