The Effects of Climate Change on Migratory Birds (2022)

Climate change is recognized as a major driver of changes in migratory patterns in a variety of species. Studies in the US have shown that, due to temperature changes associated with global warming, migratory bird species have begun to arrive earlier at their summer breeding grounds. Our research considers whether this pattern holds for the North Country. To find out, we combined field research with data from eBird, an online citizen science database. We focused on Osprey, Eastern Phoebe, Turkey Vulture, and Killdeer, all migratory species which are easy to recognize for researchers with minimal birding experience. We collected data from eBird on first arrival dates in the years from 1990 to 2022, and surveyed to see if we could find these species early in the season. Our results supported our hypothesis, showing clear patterns of earlier arrival for all four bird species in this study.