Audubon Reveals a Staggering 314 Bird Species are at Risk from Climate Change

Climate change may be having more of an effect than we realized. Scientists have announced that it may threaten nearly half of the bird species in the continental United States and Canada; that's a staggering 314 North American bird species that include the bald eagle, common loon, Baltimore oriole and the brown pelican.

In order to better understand the type of threats that birds may face in the future, Audubon Chief Scientist Gary Langham and Audubon ornithologists analyzed 30 years of North American climate data. They also examined tens of thousands of historical bird observations from the Christmas Bird Count, a count that occurs every year to determine the amount of each species of bird present, and the U.S. Geological Survey's North American Breeding Bird Survey.

"It's a punch in the gut," said Langham, who led the investigation. "The greatest threat our birds face today is global warming. That's our unequivocal conclusion after seven years of painstakingly careful and thorough research. Global warming threatens the basic fabric of life on which birds-and the rest of us-depend, and we have to act quickly and decisively if we are going to avoid catastrophe for them and for us."

In fact, the researchers found that 126 species will lose more than 50 percent of their current ranges-and in some cases up to 100 percent-by 2050. This is in addition to the fact that the birds will have no possibility of moving elsewhere if global warming continues on its current trajectory. A further 188 species will face more than 50 percent range loss by 2080, but may be able to make up some of that loss if they can colonize new areas.

While some of the birds will be able to adapt to shifting climates, the disturbing finding is that many iconic species will not. In fact, the bald eagle may see its range decrease by nearly 75 percent in the next 65 years.

The findings show that something needs to be done in order to help preserve these species. As temperatures warm, it's crucial to take steps to help mitigate threats to habitat and the environment in order to give these birds a better chance at survival in the future.

To learn more about these 314 bird species at risk, check out Audubon's website.