Birds and the Impacts of a Changing Climate

by Courtney Collins

Did you know that each different bird species has a specific territory and range of where they can live due to their biological requirements? Birds that migrate to and from Canada often go south for a more temperate climate during the colder months. This happens because birds, like many other animals, use environmental patterns to determine migration^{1, 2}. As the global climate changes, many bird species are shifting their migration timeframes, not migrating at all, or moving their territories altogether^{3, 4, 5}. When bird ranges change, it can result in an increased or decreased territory⁶.

Birds also have a breeding schedule – I’m sure you’ve noticed many baby birds come spring and summer! Some interesting data shows that birds are laying their eggs 6-7 days earlier per decade on average, with the Common Murre laying their eggs as many as 24 days earlier per decade than historical data has recorded⁷. Another study found that some bird species are migrating east to west instead of north to south due to the changing climate and warmer temperatures⁸. But why does all of this matter? When territories change, the other species that share that environment are also impacted by increased competition – this could include competition for food or space, or increased risk from predators^{9, 10}. Furthermore, when birds arrive back to their northern territories, they may arrive to less food resources due to a ‘mismatch’ in timing¹¹. There are some birds that don’t migrate, like the Canada Jay, that depend on the cold winter temperatures to keep their stored food frozen – as the winters become shorter and/or warmer, these food stores may be lost or their nutritional value decreased, negatively impacting this bird’s ability to survive¹².

Recent research has shown that almost 70% of all birds in North America will be impacted by the changing climate¹³. However, not all bird species have the same ability to adapt to the rapidly changing climate and some will not be able to adapt quickly enough to avoid negative impacts. This means we could also lose some bird species altogether^{14, 15, 16}. This is important because birds have essential roles in their ecosystems. All of these changes have the potential to have a domino effect on not only the bird species, but also other species they interact with or share an environment with. For example, birds, like bees, are pollinators. Birds also help control insect populations¹⁷. So, how can we help? We can limit the impacts to the environment that play a part in climate change, like reducing our greenhouse gas emissions, and we can also advocate for protected areas for birds so that they can adapt without the additional threat of habitat loss and pollution¹⁸. For some other ideas on how you can help and get involved, check out the Parks Canada webpage here: https://parks.canada.ca/nature/science/climat-climate/oiseaux-birds.

Footnotes

1. Esprit Smith, “Climate Patterns Thousands of Miles Away Affect US Bird Migration,” NASA, July 21, 2022, https://climate.nasa.gov/news/3201/climate-patterns-thousands-of-miles-away-affect-us-bird-migration/.
2. Nature Canada, “How climate change is affecting birds,” Nature Canada, accessed on April 6, 2023, https://naturecanada.ca/discover-nature/about-our-birds/how-climate-change-is-affecting-birds/.
3. Brooke Bateman, “False Springs: How Earlier Spring With Climate Change Wreaks Havoc on Birds,” Audubon, September 25, 2020, https://www.audubon.org/news/false-springs-how-earlier-spring-climate-change-wreaks-havoc-birds.
4. Parks Canada, “Birds and climate change: can they stay or will they go?,” Parks Canada, December 7, 2022, https://parks.canada.ca/nature/science/climat-climate/oiseaux-birds.
5. Leela Viswanathan, “The Vulnerability of Birds to Climate Change Effects,” Indigenous Climate Hub, January 6, 2022, https://indigenousclimatehub.ca/2022/01/the-vulnerability-of-birds-to-climate-change-effects/.
6. Leela Viswanathan, “The Vulnerability of Birds to Climate Change Effects,” Indigenous Climate Hub, January 6, 2022, https://indigenousclimatehub.ca/2022/01/the-vulnerability-of-birds-to-climate-change-effects/.
7. Nature Canada, “How climate change is affecting birds,” Nature Canada, accessed on April 6, 2023, https://naturecanada.ca/discover-nature/about-our-birds/how-climate-change-is-affecting-birds/.
8. Elizabeth Gamillo, “Bird Migration Patterns Are Changing – and Climate Change May Be To Blame,” Smithsonian Magazine, November 12, 2021, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/bird-migration-patterns-are-changing-and-climate-change-may-be-to-blame-180979054/.
9. Elizabeth Gamillo, “Bird Migration Patterns Are Changing – and Climate Change May Be To Blame,” Smithsonian Magazine, November 12, 2021, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/bird-migration-patterns-are-changing-and-climate-change-may-be-to-blame-180979054/.
10. Parks Canada, “Birds and climate change: can they stay or will they go?,” Parks Canada, December 7, 2022, https://parks.canada.ca/nature/science/climat-climate/oiseaux-birds.
11. Birds Canada, “Climate Crisis and Canada’s Birds,” Birds Canada, accessed on 7 April 2023, https://www.birdscanada.org/conserve-birds/climate-crisis-and-canadas-birds.
12. Parks Canada, “Birds and climate change: can they stay or will they go?,” Parks Canada, December 7, 2022, https://parks.canada.ca/nature/science/climat-climate/oiseaux-birds.
13. Birds Canada, “Climate Crisis and Canada’s Birds,” Birds Canada, accessed on 7 April 2023, https://www.birdscanada.org/conserve-birds/climate-crisis-and-canadas-birds.
14. Nature Canada, “How climate change is affecting birds,” Nature Canada, accessed on April 6, 2023, https://naturecanada.ca/discover-nature/about-our-birds/how-climate-change-is-affecting-birds/.
15. Brooke Bateman, “False Springs: How Earlier Spring With Climate Change Wreaks Havoc on Birds,” Audubon, September 25, 2020, https://www.audubon.org/news/false-springs-how-earlier-spring-climate-change-wreaks-havoc-birds.
16. Parks Canada, “Birds and climate change: can they stay or will they go?,” Parks Canada, December 7, 2022, https://parks.canada.ca/nature/science/climat-climate/oiseaux-birds.
17. Esprit Smith, “Climate Patterns Thousands of Miles Away Affect US Bird Migration,” NASA, July 21, 2022, https://climate.nasa.gov/news/3201/climate-patterns-thousands-of-miles-away-affect-us-bird-migration/.
18. Parks Canada, “Birds and climate change: can they stay or will they go?,” Parks Canada, December 7, 2022, https://parks.canada.ca/nature/science/climat-climate/oiseaux-birds.