Audobon lecture imparts impact of climate change on birds

Author: Carolyn Fox

The Otter Creek Audubon Society welcomed Jim Shallow to the Ilsley Public Library on March 19 for his lecture, "Wings of the North: Songbirds and Global Warming." The evening marked the final event in a three-part winter lecture series. It addressed the latest National Audubon Society research on the effects of changes in ecosystems on bird species, specifically those native to the Addison County area. Twenty Otter Creek Audubon Society members attended the hour-long event as they anticipate the southerly migration of many local birds in the coming months.

The Audubon Society of Vermont, now a part of the National Audubon Society, was founded in 1901 as one of the oldest grassroots conservation networks in the country. Shallow is the conservation and policy director at Audubon Vermont. A high school science teacher before working for Audubon Vermont, Shallow quickly picked up what he needed to know to advance the cause of conservation.

"Before working at Audobon Vermont, I didn't know much about birds," Shallow said. "Audobon Vermont was a crash course for me, but it quickly taught me a love and appreciation for the birds in our area."

During the lecture, he applauded the enthusiasm of the Otter Creek Audubon Society and explained the need to educate the community about the increasingly dire effects of changing ecosystems on birds.

According to Shallow, Vermont and its neighboring states support some of the highest densities of breeding bird species in the continental United States. Thus, climate changes in ecosystems have the potential to drastically influence the behavior of birds.

Shallow explained that because the northeast has been warming 0.5 degrees per decade since the 1970s, only five to 10 of the 40 bird species that depend on the area to breed will remain local over the next century. All others will migrate north to stay within temperature ranges optimal for their behavioral patterns. Shallow speculated that climate change may cause the Vermont state bird, the hermit thrush, to move north of Vermont.

In addition to migration, Shallow noted that climate change has affected habitat, reproductive timing and the spread of disease among birds. Birds lay eggs earlier and in smaller breeding grounds. Shallow worries that these behavioral changes will threaten the survival of bird species, but working to slow the pace of climate change will help.

Shallow reinforced the necessity of legislative advocacy in reducing carbon dioxide emissions and supporting ongoing conservation work. Recently, Governor Jim Douglas suggested eliminating funding for conservation in his plans to restructure the budget. The Audubon Society encourages residents to talk to local legislators and show support by getting involved in local Audubon chapters.

"I encourage any interested Middlebury students to get involved with us," Shallow said. "We have occasional internships and summer camps, and love meeting new people interested in birds and their natural environment."