Changes in California’s Bird Communities Due to Climate Change
Climate change could scatter California’s bird communities, forcing species to seek new homes that are cooler, wetter and more hospitable, according to a new study by Stanford University and partner institutions. For instance, the White-Crowned Sparrow, beloved for its thin, sweet whistle and dashing striped head and now common in San Jose, would be more likely spotted in the far northwest corner of the state, near Eureka. The Yellow-billed Magpie, now common in the Central Valley, may be Silicon Valley-bound.
However this means that entire ecosystems, built over eons of entwined relationships, could unravel.
The startling forecast, based on complex mathematical models of climate, vegetation and 60 bird species, concludes that half of California could be occupied by new bird communities by 2070.
Re-Shuffling of Species with Climate Disruption: A No-Analog Future for California Birds? –
