2010 State of the Birds: Climate Change
by Bob Sallinger
On March 11, Secretary of the Interior Salazar announced the release of a new State of the Birds Report: Birds and Climate Change. This report was a joint effort of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Audubon, American Bird Conservancy and others. It follows on the 2009 State of the Birds Report, which revealed that nearly a quarter of North American bird species are experiencing serious long-term declines. The Birds and Climate Change Report adds to those concerns.
The report shows that birds in every aquatic and terrestrial habitat type are being affected by climate change. It is full of fascinating and frightening information about how we are changing our planet. Among the most vulnerable species are our ocean birds -- species such as puffins, albatrosses, murres, murrelets and auklets -- which have low reproductive rates, depend on vulnerable islands for nesting habitat, and are impacted by rapidly changing ocean conditions. Of particular interest to Oregonians is the report's call to continue to develop renewable energy resources but to pay closer attention to how these facilities are sited to minimize the impacts of habitat loss and fragmentation.
More information:
Read report: The State of the Birds: 2010 Report on Climate Change PDF
Go to the report website: www.stateofthebirds.org/
