Evidence suggests that rising average temperatures could allow mosquitoes to survive at higher, elevations, exposing the birds to deadly diseases. Researchers for the U.S. Geological Survey conclude that even a small increase in temperatures in Hawaii's forests will eliminate much of the mosquito-free safe zone that once existed for Kauai's birds. Read More...
And the population could rise even more. Unusually warm temperatures in the birds' breeding habitat on Wrangel Island, in the Russian Arctic, have led to more chicks hatching and surviving.
Davison said the island's warm temperatures may be a result of global warming. If so, conditions could grow still milder and bring yet more geese.
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Scientists are taking the unorthodox step of using king penguins to help determine the true extent of climate change.
The University of Birmingham says that mapping the behaviour of the Antarctic birds to better understand global warming is the reverse of the standard practice of measuring the effects of climate change upon fish patterns or avian migration.
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West Coast seabirds are dying, apparently from a lack of food -- and some researchers think the phenomenon may be linked to global climate change.
This is the third year that scientists have found unusually large numbers of marine birds -- mainly common murres, but also rhinoceros auklets and tufted puffins -- washed up on beaches in California, Oregon and Washington. In 2005, the first year of the phenomenon, large numbers of Cassin's auklets also died. ...
Sydeman said the anomalies could be linked to global climate change.
"What's clear is that during the past decade, there's much more variability out there than there was during the preceding 40 years," he said.
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