New Audubon site shows bird declines due to climate change

Florida Today

Nine bird species would be highly vulnerable in Brevard County, if average temperatures increased by 3 degrees Censius, according to a new Audubon analysis.

In a world 3 degrees Celsius warmer, the wood thrush likely would never fly this far south to sing its flute-like songs in Florida. And fat chance of ever hearing the staccato pecks of a red-headed woodpecker.

Those are among the scenarios the National Audubon Society warns of, and seen, on the nonprofit's new Survival By Degrees website. Users can search the site by county or ZIP Code to find which bird species in their neck of the woods are most vulnerable to climate change.

Two-thirds of North American bird species are at risk of extinction from the ill effects of climate change, Audubon warns.

Bird numbers in America and Canada already have declined by 3 billion, almost 30%, over the past 50 years, according to a recent analysis in the journal Science, causing some environmentalists to fear Rachel Carson's Silent Spring may soon arrive — for good, if nothing's done to temper climate change.

Our feathered friends' savior may be renewable energy, Audubon says.

"The good news is that our science also shows that if we take action now, we can help improve the chances for 76% of species at risk," Audubon's analysis says.

Scientists warn climate change will result in hotter summers that rapidly dry up standing water in south Florida, increasing the likelihood of toxic algae blooms deadly to birds and other wildlife.

Other predicted Florida impacts harmful to birds include rising seas that jeopardize Florida’s beach, mangrove and salt marsh nesting habitats. A warmer world also will expose birds to more frequent and intense storms that will render coastal nesting sites and foraging habitat unusable. Highly and moderately vulnerable birds may lose more than half of their current range, Audubon predicts.

A male snail kite perches on a piling in Lake Tohopekaliga as a moorhen scoots by underneath. The snail kite is listed as endangered both federally and in Florida. The Kissimmee River and Chain of Lakes are two of its main habitats. Audubon says grassland birds such as the snail kite are vulnerable from global warming.

The nonprofit studied 604 North American bird species using 140 million bird records, including sightings from bird watchers nationwide. Audubon's scientists put that data into the same climate models used by experts in 80 countries to map where each bird might live in the future. They found 389 of the bird species (64%) at risk of extinction from climate change.

According to Audubon's site, Florida has 87 stable bird species, 13 species are highly vulnerable, 16 are moderately vulnerable and 28 have low vulnerability.

In Brevard County, 73 bird species are stable, 9 are highly vulnerable, 9 are moderately vulnerable and 17 have low vulnerability, according to Audubon's analysis.

Sandhill cranes, a threatened species, are often seen nesting or walking about parts of Brevard County. A family of sandhill cranes looks for lunch in Viera off of north Wickham Road in this 2019 photo. Grassland birds such as sandhill cranes are vulnerable from the ill impacts of climate change, a new Audubon report says.

Some birds may lose range outside of Florida, making protection of their in-state habitat even more vital, Audubon warns.

Hundreds of bird species live year-round in Florida's cypress sloughs and tropical hardwood hammocks. Snowbirds, such as wood thrushes, use Florida as a launching pad for southern destinations. Biologists blame that bird's decline on parasites, predators and habitat fragmentation. But a 3 degree temperature rise could spark more heat waves and fires in Midwestern forests that could wipe out wood thrush breeding there, Audubon warns.

Reducing emissions would greatly help the bird, the nonprofit says. At a 1.5 degree increase from climate change, the wood thrush would retain more than 80 percent of its breeding range, Audubon says.

Audubon says more solar power could help ease global warming's impact on North Amercan bird species.

Audubon points to solar and other renewable energy as the best way to buy birds more time.

Florida is the second-largest producer of electricity after Texas, Audubon notes, and natural gas fueled about 70% of Florida's electricity net generation in 2018, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

The good news, Audubon notes, is that coal consumption in Florida's electric power sector fell by more than half over the past decade, to 12 million tons in 2018, as natural gas-fired power plants replaced older coal-fired units.

But Audubon still sees much room for improvement in the Sunshine State.

"While Florida has the third-best physical and geographic conditions in the country for solar, its policies mean the state is only 18th for installed solar capacity," Audubon's analysis notes. "Recent commitments, like that from Florida Power & Light Company to add 30 million more solar panels by 2030, could help the state close this gap."

Jim Waymer is environment reporter at FLORIDA TODAY.

Contact Waymer at 321-242-3663

or jwaymer@floridatoday.com.

Twitter: @JWayEnviro

Facebook: www.facebook.com/jim.waymer

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