Birds' patterns changing in face of gloal warming

[douglas9]

Source: San Antonio Express News

SINTON — John Rappole stares at a softball-sized hunk of twigs and grass perched above him in a dead willow tree.

The bushy sphere is a great kiskadee nest, and it's the type of thing that lured Rappole from his position at the National Zoo in Washington to the Rob and Bessie Welder Wildlife Refuge in South Texas for two months of fieldwork.

“That is it,” said the senior research scientist. “You find that and it's a thrill.”

The great kiskadee is not supposed to be here in rural San Patricio County. Neither is the green jay or the green kingfisher or several other species of birds flying around the 7,800-acre refuge.

Read more: http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/metro/stories/MYSA120107.global4.457706ff.html

[anitar1]

1. Very interesting post. Enjoyed the article.n/t

[semillama]

2. It was a rare example of clear, comprehensible science journalism

It actually presented what he found and what he thinks it means, not any twist to fit the story the journalist already had in mind. This is good journalism.

A shoddy journalist wouldn't have bothered to mention any of the other factors that influence bird range expansion and contraction, but this guy hit it right on the head - the main cause is habitat availability. Birds can't expand their range if there's no suitable habitat for them to expand into. Of course, climate change does influence that, and will play a prominent role in the coming years in changing habitats, but right now, the dominant factor in habitat change is still human activity on the landscape.

[Teaser]

3. well. at least they're adapting

we may be ok (not good, but OK) if important species can make adaptations.

Us being the one that needs to adapt the most.

[robbedvoter]

4. I saw a sandpiper downtown Manhattan, hopping on a sidewalk on a cold day

Someone said he got lost, but now I wonder...

[semillama]

8. NYC is on the Atlantic Flyway, so he's only slightly off course

Might have been heading for a beach on Long Island?

[Maestro]

5. Now this is neat.

Expanding their territory. The great kiskadee and green jay were exclusive to the Valley of Texas. Although I am concerned that it could be because of climate change. Drastic climate change will be detrimental to birds in general, but it would be nice not to have to travel to the Valley to see these fine birds.

[Tempest]

6. It may seem neat now

But it won't when invasive birds and other animals start showing up and change the environment by destroying crops, beneficial insect populations and the like.

[Maestro]

7. Completely agree.

This is much more detrimental than "neat."

[kineneb]

9. like West Nile Virus?

and several other nasty diseases? We didn't used to have WNV in northern California. Now we get warnings every summer, and the vets remind folks to get their horses vaccinated. WNV can kill horses.

We can all live without dengue fever migrating north.