For those who know me in real life know I am passionate about bird watching. I'm involved in the RSPB and have countless birding books - the collection is growing I must admit. I am also a climate activist. having been part of the climate youth assembly 2019. Climate change is having a devastating effect on bird populations. Globally, it is driving birds migration out of sync, disrupting the harmonic relationship between fauna/flora and birds as well as rising sea levels threaten coastal species' habitats.
migration
The migration pattern of birds are changing. Birds are moving further northwards as habitats warm up and change. This poses a risk to the majority of bird species. Worryingly, its the rare breeding birds that are likely to suffer, such as dotterel, common scoter and Slavonian grebe, are at high risk of extinction in the UK, as their habitats here start to change and disappear. Moreover, more and more species that are typically European will be seen in the UK. The little egret is an example of this. Warmer weather has driven the little Egret from rarely being seen in the south of the UK up as far as the Midlands. I have seen many of little Egrets on nature reserves and RSPB reserves near me.
coastal species
Eustatic sea level change as a result of glacial ice melt and thermal expansion will result in many coastal bird habitats being threatened.
However, in Aberdeen Oystercatcher nest on roofs that are covered in small stones and shingle as it mimics their natural environment with the added advantage of being elevated from predators and rising sea level/ Recently, many have been renovating roofs replacing the stone and shingle with flat surfaces. Perhaps as a way of conservation in the future of coastal birds, coastal settlements should adapt the urban area in a way so it is shared space.
Not only are habitats threatened but the change in the conditions of our seas is affecting food source for birds. Ocean acidification as a result of excess carbon dioxide in the
atmosphere being absorbed into the hydrosphere. Since the beginning of the industrial era the hydrosphere has absorbed some 525 billion tonnes of co2 from the atmosphere, presently around 22 million tonnes per day. The problem occurring here is the ocean is acidifying so quickly species cant adapt quick enough.
The acidic ocean dissolves shells of crustaceans making it difficult for them to grow in the first place so, availability of food sources for birds is reduced
These are only two ways in which birds are threatened from climate change, I hope you take away from this how big of an impact it is having. It is up to us to do something about it.
I have attached links for further reading below if you are interested in knowing more.
https://www.massaudubon.org/our-conservation-work/climate-change/effects-of-climate-change/on-birds
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/sep/02/global-heating-geese-shift-migration-stop-off-northwards
https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg23030671-300-common-uk-migrating-birds-are-arriving-earlier-or-leaving-later/
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=vKxC-zNUbEAC&pg=PT89&lpg=PT89&dq=Early+arrivals+and+delayed+flights+of+birds&source=bl&ots=Nn7Pz_eroh&sig=ACfU3U1Z3eMdMW90etyw8Q6lWlhMhqbdIQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiese7b-fHnAhVIPcAKHVf5CrQQ6AEwDXoECAcQAQ#v=onepage&q=Early%20arrivals%20and%20delayed%20flights%20of%20birds&f=false
https://phys.org/news/2017-06-sea-coastal-birds-extinction.html
migration
The migration pattern of birds are changing. Birds are moving further northwards as habitats warm up and change. This poses a risk to the majority of bird species. Worryingly, its the rare breeding birds that are likely to suffer, such as dotterel, common scoter and Slavonian grebe, are at high risk of extinction in the UK, as their habitats here start to change and disappear. Moreover, more and more species that are typically European will be seen in the UK. The little egret is an example of this. Warmer weather has driven the little Egret from rarely being seen in the south of the UK up as far as the Midlands. I have seen many of little Egrets on nature reserves and RSPB reserves near me.
- Birds stopping over winter
Birds that come to the UK to nest in the summer are staying in the UK when they should return to to the south in the Winter. From September , birds such as the ChiffChaff and Blackcap should migrate down south. The Backcap should return to Southern Europe and the Chiffchaff should winter in southern and western Europe, southern Asia and north Africa. As a consequence of this, these bird populations have more than doubled in this country since 1970.
- Early arrivals and delayed flights
Birds are also arriving earlier consequently are leaving later. The Blackcap and swallow are two prime examples of this; the Blackcap is staying two weeks longer than it should in the UK compared to half a century ago if it does migrate back to southern Europe. Moreover, Swallows are arriving as much as 15 days earlier than the 1960s in the UK therefore
coastal species
Eustatic sea level change as a result of glacial ice melt and thermal expansion will result in many coastal bird habitats being threatened.
"Researchers predict that rising sea levels and increased flooding events may drive the saltmarsh sparrow, a coastal species in the US, to extinction, possibly even within the next 20 years," Dr Bailey said.
Arguably, the saltmarsh environment is at most risk and is also a crucial coastal landscape for bird species. The growth of vegetation which defines the saltmarsh is reliant on the ebbs and flows of the tides. Sea level rise threatens to increase the height of the tide and even submerge the salt marsh indefinitely. Restricting growth of vegetation and resulting into the breakdown of the ecosystem.
"Like the Eurasian oystercatcher, this species does not appear to be adapting to the changing tidal conditions."
The issue is that the conditions are changing too quickly for birds to adapt. The Eurasian Oystercatcher nests in shingle on the ground. Flooding can easily wipe these nests out. However, in Aberdeen Oystercatcher nest on roofs that are covered in small stones and shingle as it mimics their natural environment with the added advantage of being elevated from predators and rising sea level/ Recently, many have been renovating roofs replacing the stone and shingle with flat surfaces. Perhaps as a way of conservation in the future of coastal birds, coastal settlements should adapt the urban area in a way so it is shared space.
Not only are habitats threatened but the change in the conditions of our seas is affecting food source for birds. Ocean acidification as a result of excess carbon dioxide in the
atmosphere being absorbed into the hydrosphere. Since the beginning of the industrial era the hydrosphere has absorbed some 525 billion tonnes of co2 from the atmosphere, presently around 22 million tonnes per day. The problem occurring here is the ocean is acidifying so quickly species cant adapt quick enough.
The acidic ocean dissolves shells of crustaceans making it difficult for them to grow in the first place so, availability of food sources for birds is reduced
These are only two ways in which birds are threatened from climate change, I hope you take away from this how big of an impact it is having. It is up to us to do something about it.
 |
| sand martins: awfully difficult to photograph |
I have attached links for further reading below if you are interested in knowing more.
https://www.massaudubon.org/our-conservation-work/climate-change/effects-of-climate-change/on-birds
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/sep/02/global-heating-geese-shift-migration-stop-off-northwards
https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg23030671-300-common-uk-migrating-birds-are-arriving-earlier-or-leaving-later/
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=vKxC-zNUbEAC&pg=PT89&lpg=PT89&dq=Early+arrivals+and+delayed+flights+of+birds&source=bl&ots=Nn7Pz_eroh&sig=ACfU3U1Z3eMdMW90etyw8Q6lWlhMhqbdIQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiese7b-fHnAhVIPcAKHVf5CrQQ6AEwDXoECAcQAQ#v=onepage&q=Early%20arrivals%20and%20delayed%20flights%20of%20birds&f=false
https://phys.org/news/2017-06-sea-coastal-birds-extinction.html
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