Temperature Rise Threatens 114 of 168 Vermont Birds by 2050
Birds of Greensboro by John Audubon Schweizer
The Black-throated Green Warbler and Spruce Grouse are the most at-risk NEK birds.
On October 10th, the National Audubon released its scientists’ latest forecast for birds at risk of disappearing from Vermont by 2050. The scientists’ model looked at 168 Vermont bird species and average temperature rising 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit by 2050. This temperature rise which is consistent with the current climate trends will result in shorter winters and more frequent extreme weather-related events like droughts, heavy rains, extreme spring heat, and forest fires. These conditions will not only affect our birds’ ability and timing for migration, nesting, and reproduction but also shock and reorder the local insect population which is the primary sources of nutrition for fledglings and their parents.
Of the 114 threaten species, 54 common Greensboro birds are at moderate to high risk of disappearing and 60 are at low risk. The moderate to high-risk birds include 11 species of warblers, 5 species of sparrows, woodcocks, mergansers as well as Vermont’s state bird, the Hermit Thrush. The remaining population of other studied Vermont species should remain relatively unchanged during the next 30 years. More information on threatening Vermont bird species can be seen at the website: Audubon.org/climate/survival by degrees/state/us/vt.