Humans are the most successful wildlife species in the world. According to NOAA Fisheries, most birds released into the wild survive for at least several decades, thanks to our human benefactors, and many are iconic additions to our iconic landscapes. But our vast carbon footprint — which is warming the globe — could hinder those birds’ survival: Experts now say that the long-term health of birds is imperiled by a global warming.
Climate change isn’t just good for humans. A study published in Scientific Reports shows that higher temperatures and related wildlife diseases like vector-borne infections, invasive animals and new diseases could be gradually slowing species’ physical, biological and behavioral adaptability.
If this is the case, we would probably better off not picking favorites like a peregrine falcon, puffin or gray seal. Bird diversity is suffering, and could, in the coming decades, actually decline.
The Nature Conservancy has put up a good infographic to show the decline of bird diversity over time. Check it out below:
