"We know that climate variables — including temperature and precipitation — determine where most birds live and where they don't, because it is too hot, for example," said Terry Root, a Nobel Prize-winning Stanford University professor who serves on Audubon's board of directors but was not involved in the study. "The Audubon study determined the climate variables that dictate where all North American birds live today and then brilliantly used climate forecasts to project where birds will most likely occur in the future. We all will see the effects of changing climate in our own backyards. We just cannot ignore such a sobering wake-up call."
10 Birds That Could Lose 99 Percent or More of Current Range by 2080
* American Avocet
* Black Rosy-Finch
* Brown-headed Nuthatch
* Chestnut-collared Longspur
* Eared Grebe
* Northern Gannet
* Northern Saw-whet Owl
* Trumpeter Swan
* White-headed Woodpecker
* Yellow Rail
The study, which was funded in part by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, has numerous implications for conservation, public policy and further research and provides a new suite of tools for scientists, conservationists, land managers and policy makers. For example, the study identifies "strongholds," areas that will remain stable for some birds even as climate changes and are candidates for protection and management.
Audubon today launched a new web portal — Audubon.org/Climate — dedicated to understanding the links between birds and global warming, including animated maps and photographs of the 314 species at risk, a technical report, and in-depth stories from the September-October issue of Audubon magazine, which is also devoted to the topic.
"Millions of people across the country will take this threat personally because birds matter to them," said Yarnold. "For bird lovers, this issue transcends nasty political posturing; it's a bird issue. And we know that when we do the right things for birds, we do the right things for people too. Everyone can do something, from changing the plants in their backyard to working at the community and state level to protect the places birds will need to survive and promote clean energy. We are what hope looks like to a bird."
Complete report: http://www.audubon.org/climate
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