The Golden Plover is just one species of bird that has been negatively affected by climate change.
With global warming on the rise and our climate changing more and more every year, one can’t help but think that eventually not all of us are going to be able to keep up. And, not to mention, hasn’t this winter been pretty mild? It’s almost February, and it has only snowed twice. Never mind one of those snow days was all the way back in October of last year. So what species are really hurting from the ever-changing climate?
A recent study by the Audubon Society shows that nearly 60 percent of the 305 bird species found in North America in the winter are on the move and cannot keep up with the climate. According to the Audubon Society, these birds have shifted their range north by an average of 35 miles in order to keep to cooler temperatures. The perfect example of birds affected by climate change is the black-and-white pied flycatcher. These birds are unable to adapt to the warmer northern areas and have decreased by half in the United Kingdom since 1995.
According to the “Bird Species and Climate Change — Global Status Report,” global warming has already caused the extinction of approximately 70 species of frogs in Central and South America and is a huge threat to birds as they may not be able to adapt to climate change or their habitats are being destroyed. Food sources are also disappearing. The Golden Plover’s main source of food is the cranefly, which cannot survive in warm temperatures therefore causing a problem for the bird.
Not only are birds suffering, animals all over the world are suffering from milder climates. We all know the tragic story of the polar bear, which can completely disappear in the wild unless global warming slows. Because of warming temperatures, sea ice is melting; polar bears are dependent on sea ice as they use it to catch prey.
In China, the giant panda’s future is uncertain due to a number of threats. Poaching is a menace for these poor pandas, but as bamboo is their main source of diet — one that can be diminished from global warming — they are on shaky ground. The African elephant, a personal favorite, is threatened because their natural habitat is also affected by climate change.
Global warming and climate change threaten all species (including us), with loss of habitat, disastrous weather and disease. It’s real, and unless we make some drastic changes, it’s here to stay.
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