Environment

Birds in North America are 'shrinking' because of climate change

by mudricky | March 13, 2010 at 02:59 am

309 views | 27 Recommendations | 7 comments

Studies have shown that the size of birds in North America have changed over the years and that they may have become smaller - and scientists are blaming it on climate change.

A larger study has begun on this by Dr Josh Van Buskirk who is based at the University of Zurich, Switzerland.

Also working on the project is Robert Mulvihill and Robert Leberman both at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Rector, Pennsylvania.

With warmer temperatures occurring they believe the change happened in the last half a century. The researchers also believe that these changes haven't caused any harm to the birds.

Songbirds in the US are getting smaller, and climate change is suspected as the cause.

A study of almost half a million birds, belonging to over 100 species, shows that many are gradually becoming lighter and growing shorter wings.

This shrinkage has occurred within just half a century, with the birds thought to be evolving into a smaller size in response to warmer temperatures.

However, there is little evidence that the change is harmful to the birds.

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Uwe Paschen

at 04:21 on March 13th, 2010

Smaller is better for survival.

YankeeJim

at 05:43 on March 13th, 2010

Hard to say that it is climate change, and easier to believe that humans are killing their habitat.

Yes, history has shown that smaller is better. I am dieting.

mudricky

at 05:45 on March 13th, 2010

=:-) I'll join you in the diet too ha ha

Amy Judd

at 08:18 on March 13th, 2010

I did hear a study about a year ago saying that city noise was also affecting the growth of birds.

mudricky

at 08:30 on March 13th, 2010

Yes I remember that too, can't find it but I found this one: http://my.nowpublic.com/environment/birds-having-tweet-over-all-traffic

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at 10:41 on March 13th, 2010

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Barbara McPherson

at 13:06 on March 14th, 2010

This is really interesting. Animals on islands tend to 'breed down' as well. It does make me wonder if part of the issue is shrinking habitats. Nice pic of the bluebird. We used to have them on Vancouver Island but 'progress' has extirpated them.