According to a study reported in the San Francisco Chronicle, birds can be a barometer for climate change because of their sensitivity to changing habitats. As the climate warms or cools, plant life and water levels can change rapidly, causing birds to change their distribution in favor of more suitable habitats. When those habitats become scarce, bird species that would normally be separated may begin to mingle and new ecological relationships can develop.The study, completed by researchers from the Point Reyes Bird Observatory, Stanford University, UC Santa Cruz and the Klamath Bird Observatory, suggests that California birds that thrive in coastal scrublands and forests, such as the white-crowned sparrow, will become far less widely distributed, while other species may increase. Changes in precipitation, plant distribution, urbanization and other factors were considered when gauging birds’ potential adaptations.
Birders can help provide suitable habitats for species in their region by creating bird-friendly landscaping and feeding birds responsibly. Even small changes that provide miniature habitats in urban areas can be beneficial to many bird species, particularly as they adapt to larger changes.
White-Crowned Sparrow
Photo © Kevin Cole
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