Climate Impacts On Birds Likely Substantial - US Species Shifted Northward 40Km 2000-2005

[hatrack]

EDIT

Some species have even begun to breed in winter. In the UK, more Tawny Owls have been noted breeding during the Christmas period than ever before, as opposed to their traditional breeding season of March. Much of this is thought to be due to their main food source, voles, doing the same, due to warmer winter temperatures.

Clearly, climate change is increasingly affecting bird ecosystems, habitats and species. Birds are migrating earlier and arriving in traditional breeding areas sooner in the year. One analysis suggests the rate of change could be as much as 6.6 days per decade. While another study suggests European birds will shift 550km to the northeast by the end of the century – and reduce in number by as much as 20%. The same trend has been reported in the US where bird species have shifted north by as much as 40km between 2000 and 2005.

The effect of climate change on birdlife is a serious problem for ecosystems in general, as the lifecycles of many birds, plants and insects depend on each other. If other species of wildlife don't react in the same way to climate change then the result is significantly higher egg and fledgling mortality, due to food shortages.

In the future, climate change could mean massive changes in bird biodiversity, if species are unable to adapt or shift to more climatically suitable areas.

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http://www.earthtimes.org/climate/climate-change-has-huge-effect-on-birdlife/577/

[Night Crawler]

1. And the Canadian Harp Seals migrating south

Due to global warming in the arctic...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=115x281710