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Dutch Study Sheds Light On Climate Changes Threat To Birds
Paris (AFP) May 04, 2006 Environmental scientists in the Netherlands say they have found evidence that climate change can decimate migrating bird species by affecting the date when their main food supply becomes abundant. A small long-distance migrating bird called the pied flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca) spends the northern hemisphere winter in West Africa, returning to northern Europe in the spring to breed. Dutch researchers have been following the species for decades, using nestboxes in forests, observations of their arrival and departure and monitoring availability of their staple food, which is caterpillars. They have found that the earlier arrival of warm weather causes the caterpillars to emerge sooner -- and as a result, the flycatchers may arrive too late to properly feed their young. The birds breed, but without having an adequate food supply for the nestlings. The team, lead by Christian Both of Groningen University, looked at population numbers and caterpillar availability from 1987 to 2003. An early food peak caused flycatcher numbers to decline by a stunning 90 percent. But when the caterpillars peaked later, the decline was only 10 percent. "Mistiming as a result of climate change is probably a widespread phenomenon," says Both. "(The) evidence (is) that it can lead to population declines."
Source: Agence France-Presse Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links - Climate Science News - Modeling, Mitigation Adaptation
Canada To Spend 2 Billion Dollars To Fight Global Warming
Ottawa (AFP) May 03, 2006Canada's Finance Minister Jim Flaherty promised two billion Canadian dollars (1.8 billion US dollars) in his budget Tuesday to help stem global warming, but offered few details, prompting angry reactions from environmentalists. |
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