How climate change change the migration of birds

Migratory birds travel great distances to feed and reproduce, sometimes crossing continents and oceans in record time. Are they affected by the increase in global temperatures? Birds have always been a source of inspiration for humanity, with planes suggesting a human desire to imitate them. However, they have more to teach that the power to fly. Twice a year, when the hibernation animals, such as bears and squirrels, bask in a deep sleep that can extend to spring, migratory birds are preparing to undertake epic trips to land and sea.

In doing this, they play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of nature. During the flight from one place to another, they pollinate plants, spread seeds and control parasites feeding on insects and other invertebrates, helping to maintain the health of ecosystems, which in turn contribute to food safety.

But that’s not all. Francisco Rilla, Biologist of wildlife and United Nations consultant focused on the conservation of migratory species, recalls that these birds also act as “bioindicatori”: since they tend to avoid polluted areas, their movements provide useful information for the evaluation of water and air quality.

Trima trima at the end of the earth

During their autumn trip, migratory birds observe the light of the falling day, which include as a sign that essential foods will soon miss and that it is time to head to the south.

Some, such as the small swallowing of the Arctic, leave the North Pole dark and cold during the winter and fly to the Antarctic circle, on a round -trip journey of about 90,000 kilometers. This long journey makes its owner of the record of the longest migratory route in the animal kingdom.

Another champion is Fusel, who flies from the state of Alaska, in the northern United States, towards the Australian island of Tasmania. A five -month specimen holds the Guinness record for the long flight without longer stairs, having traveled 13,560 kilometers in 11 days and an hour.

Fusel, who feed on Alaska for two months, can reduce the size of their internal organs to create space for the rich energy reserves necessary to keep them alive during their long journey. But for some species, climate change are making these actions less and less likely.

Impacts of human activity

Migratory birds use the sun, the stars, the coast and the great masses of water to guide themselves on their travels all over the world. However, some places where they stop to rest and supply along the coast are modified by floods linked to the elevation of the sea level.

Small crustaceans, which are an important source of food, can have difficulty building their shells and skeletons in the oceans that become more acidic when they absorb more carbon dioxide. This has a chain effect on migratory birds.

Without enough food, they are less likely to survive difficult travel or reproduce successfully. Like humans, birds are also threatened by the growing intensity and frequency of extreme climatic events such as storms. Strong winds can drag them down and kill them.

And climate change can have an impact on how migratory birds behave. Higher temperatures aggravate the threat of food deficiencies, forcing them to shorten their routes or prevent them from returning to their original habitats.

This, in turn, can generate food conflicts between migratory birds and local animals. While some, like the swallow of the Arctic, compensate the strong winds by spending more energy in their travels, other species succumb to the pressure of human activity. One of these was the Fusel, he declared extinct in 2024. The researchers deduce that the species did not adapt to the loss of habitat.

How to help migratory birds

Humans trying to help, nourish birds, could do more good damage, they warn Rilla: consuming bread and seeds that are part of the humans diet, can be too satiated to look for foods that provide them with essential nutrients. In addition, the filing of food in easily displayed places can expose them to predators.

Instead, Rilla recommends helping celestial travelers by creating governments to expand the network of protected areas with international treaties, such as the convention on the conservation of the migratory species of wildlife. The United Nations Program for the Environment (UNEP) agrees with these recommendations and suggests going further by creating more “fabable birds” places.

The World Day of Migratory Birds, celebrated on May 10, underlines this year the promotion of coexistence between humans and birds. The main message is to encourage the creation of healthy habitats, reduce pollution and avoid glass buildings, which represent a significant risk of collision of the poultry.

If migratory birds begin to disappear, they could have an impact on agriculture and on the food chain. And, as Rilla says, “what happens to them can happen to us too”.

Source: Terra

Rose

Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.