Who Will Come to Your Bird Feeder in 2075?

[knocker]

 

The distribution of birds in the United States today will probably look very different in 60 years as a result of climate, land use and land cover changes.

 

A new U.S. Geological Survey study predicts where 50 bird species will breed, feed and live in the conterminous U.S. by 2075. While some types of birds, like the Baird’s sparrow, will likely lose a significant amount of their current U.S. range, other ranges could nearly double. Human activity will drive many of these shifts. The study was published today in the journal PLOS ONE.

 

"Habitat loss is a strong predictor of bird extinction at local and regional scales," said Terry Sohl, a USGS scientist and the author of the report. "Shifts in species’ ranges over the next several decades will be more dramatic for some bird species than others."      

 

Climate change will cause average temperatures to change by three degrees to seven degrees Fahrenheit by 2075, depending upon scenario and location within the conterminous U.S. Temperature increases will drive breeding ranges for many species to the north. Precipitation will increase in some regions and decline in others, resulting in substantial impacts on local and regional habitat.

 

http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp?ID=4049&from=rss_home#.VFu8yGdAZX5

[DAVID SNOW]

http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp?ID=4049&from=rss_home#.VFu8yGdAZX5

 

 

Tits.