Birds and Climate Change

The climate is rapidly changing, and this is expected to have huge consequences for the bird populations on our planet. This website aims to collect knowledge and current research regarding the effects of climate change on birds. You can find some general information under this tab, along with a discussion on why we should care about this issue. Photo © Penguin Pictures.

Siberian jays are small corvids living in the harsh climate of the northern taiga, from Norway to eastern Siberia. Their breeding success is strongly connected to spring temperature, and their survival has been found to be influenced by snow depth, two climatic variables expected to change in the future. They are also vulnerable to habitat change in the form of commercial forestry. You can read more about Siberian jays and research concerning how they are affected by climate change here. Photo © Edwin Sahlin.

Northern fulmars are long-lived, pelagic petrels living around the Arctic circle. They make their nests on the coast but forage widely in the ocean for fish. Both the survival and reproductive success of northern fulmars have been linked to environmental change in the north, and they are also subject to major plastic pollution problems. You can read more about northern fulmars and how they are affected by climate change here. Photo © E.J. Peiker.