A disturbing phenomenon is being observed across the United States, as birds have adopted a new, dangerous habit that could have devastating consequences for human society if it continues. Researchers have found that birds are abandoning their established migratory patterns as warmer temperatures in their winter habitats disrupt their annual flights. While the delay in their annual flight south may not sound like a serious problem, Cornell University scientist Andrew Farnsworth warned that this could lead to the extinction of many bird species and radically alter nature.
Birds play an important role for humans, as they help control pests, disperse seeds and pollinate plants. About 5% of plants used for food and medicine by humans depend on birds for pollination. If more birds start dying because they have difficulty finding food when the seasons change, then food production decreases and the balance of nature is disrupted. Farnsworth, a migratory ecologist, revealed that rising temperatures in areas such as the Arctic and boreal forests, combined with phenomena such as wildfires, are making it harder for birds to survive.
In total, the National Audubon Society has warned that 389 North American bird species are at risk of extinction within the next 50 years. Audubon, a US non-profit organization dedicated to protecting birds and their habitats, said that these 389 species correspond to almost two-thirds of the species studied. Researchers have warned that these birds are at risk of losing more than half of their habitat by 2080. A study by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology found that an estimated three billion birds in North America have been lost since 1970.
The impact on food
When birds die in droves, the impact is direct on pollination of tropical plants, such as bananas, coffee and cocoa trees, which produce chocolate. Medicinal plants, such as those used in traditional remedies or pharmaceuticals, including orchids and aloe species, may also decline, limiting access to natural remedies. If bird populations continue to decline, farmers may face difficulties in producing enough food, which could increase costs and affect food availability worldwide.
As the Daily Mail reports, the main cause of this mass extinction event has been traced to the loss of bird habitat, which is being exacerbated by climate change, pesticides and other human-induced impacts such as urbanization. “There’s a very close relationship between where birds are on the planet and what’s happening with the climate and the weather,” Farnsworth told NBC Connecticut. Rising global temperatures have altered the seasons, causing birds in warmer regions to leave their nests earlier or later than usual. This can mean they arrive at breeding or feeding grounds when food, such as insects or plants, is not yet available.
The birds can end up starving, unable to find suitable shelter and struggling to mate, leading to smaller and smaller populations as the winters go by.
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