• Home
  • Posts
  • Audubon Scientist To Show How Climate Change Affects Birds

Audubon Scientist To Show How Climate Change Affects Birds

audubonclimatechange

audubonclimatechange

 

By Chéye Roberson

Sentinel Correspondent

On Thursday, April 14, 6 to 7:30 p.m., Audubon Greenwich will host “Birds in a Changing Climate: How You Can Make a Difference,” a lecture followed by a wine and cheese reception featuring Dr. Gary Langham, the chief scientist of the National Audubon Society.

The Audubon said its Birds and Climate Change Report, from September 2014, has confirmed that climate change is the single greatest threat to North American birds. The lecture invites people to discover how to help birds adapt to a changing climate by planting bird-friendly habitat in their own yard and neighborhood.

“Audubon’s Climate and Bird Report showed that 314 of 588 species in North America are threatened by climate change. Vulnerability cut across all regions and types of birds,” said Langham. “In Connecticut, we modeled 181 species and found that 88, 48.6 percent, were projected to lose more than 50 percent of current range by 2080.”

There are ways that people can help reduce these affects. According to Langham, climate change is caused by the release of greenhouse gases, primarily from the use of fossil fuels. Reducing the cause of climate change means slowing the use of fossil fuels and converting to emission free energy sources.

“The most important thing people can do is to take action to reduce emissions and policies to support clean energy,” said Langham. “We can also work to make our communities more resilient by planting climate-tolerant and bird-friendly species in our yards and green spaces.”

Langham said that if we are to improve the situation, we need to act now.

“The disruption caused by a changing climate creates many unknowns in how species will respond, but one thing is certain: the sooner we take action, the better off birds, and people, will be in a changing world.”

Langham will give a 45-minute presentation on Audubon’s Climate Birds Report, with a focus on how climate change impacts species from Connecticut. The director of Audubon Greenwich, Dr. Michelle Frankel, will speak about some new initiatives that the center is offering to work with the local community to create a bird-friendly habitat.

“It is a wonderful and important opportunity to have Dr. Langham speaking at Audubon Greenwich,” said Frankel. “We are fortunate to have him here to discuss his findings and what Audubon is doing across the country to safeguard critical habitats for birds and help curb greenhouse gas emissions.”

According to Frankel, climate change poses the single greatest threat to North American birds and even the species that are common to the area are at risk.

“For example, mallard ducks are projected to shift their range northward and largely disappear in the summer months from the lower 48 states by the end of this century.  Now more than ever, it is critical that we protect and properly steward important habitat for birds,” said Frankel.

There are “Important Bird Areas” around Greenwich that are designated as wildlife spots that need to be preserved.

“In Greenwich recognized Important Bird Areas include the main sanctuary at Audubon Greenwich, Greenwich Point Park and Great Captain’s Island. And we can help birds adapt to a changing climate by creating bird-friendly habitat in our yards, local parks and schoolyards,” said Frankel.

Frankel will share information about new resources and services that the Audubon Center is providing to the local community to help transform yards and community green spaces into healthy habitats for birds.

For more information, visit http://ct.audubon.org/conservation/bird-friendly-communities.

Whole Foods Market Greenwich and the Greenwich Garden Club were co-sponsors of the event.

Related Posts
Loading...