Originally posted on Syracuse Post-Standard by Dave Figura

September 16, 2014 at 1:08 PM

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}

Birds in New York State that will take a big hit in the next 60 years due to climate change include the common loon, the purple finch, the ruffed grouse - even mallard ducks - according to Erin Crotty, executive director of Audubon New York.

"Imagine the Adirondacks in the summer without common loons? That could happen as soon as 2020," she said.

Crotty was referring to a study released last week by the National Audubon Society. The study, with its interactive online maps and charts, concluded that warming temperatures are a looming danger for up to 314 species of birds across the country, nearly half of all species found in the U.S. These birds could lose from 50 to 100 percent of their range in this century, the study said.

Many of these birds will be driven to smaller spaces or forced to find new places to live, feed and breed over the next 65 years. For several it will be very difficult - they could become extinct.

As for the loons, Crotty, said the loons will mostly like continue to be in the Adirondacks during the winter but the warmer summer temps will not be to their liking,

She said where and when birds decide to live is actually a mixture of a variety of things. Precipation, habitat, food sources figure in. This recent study only focused on climate, she said.

Crotty noted the purple finch, a popular backyard bird with birdwatches, is currently in the state year-round. By 2020, she said, that could change to just the winter. And as time goes on they may be present only in higher elevations.

For hunting enthusiasts, Crotty noted, the prognosis is not good for ruffed grouse. By 2020, she said, their range will constrict to the Adirondacks, the Southern Tier and the Catskills.

"By 2050 they could be almost entirely gone from New York, and by 2080 they could be gone," she said.

The report noted that the range of bald eagles may shrink nationwide by 73 percent by 2080. However, the bird's presence will mostly likely increase in New York State, Crotty noted. With the warmer temperatures, the bird will be more likely to winter here, she said.

Crotty echoed Audubon's President David Yarnbold, who called the report a "punch in the stomach," a wake-up call to reduce green house admissions. Yarnbold said, "This report is a road map, and it's telling us two big things: We need to preserve and protect the places where birds live, and we have to work together to reduce the severity of global warming.

Crotty was asked about the phrase "global warming" in the National Audubon's press release about the study
.
"It's a word choice. Some experts (within Audubon) are saying global warming, others say climate change. I'm much more comfortable talking about climate change," she said.

Crotty said there's no doubt changes are happening as proven by a wealth of citizen science bird watching efforts such as the annual Christmas Bird Count and "an arsenal of other reports."

There's things the average person can do, she emphasized.

Among them, she said, is a take steps to set up or build a "bird-friendly" backyard for such things as nesting and food sources.

She said Audubon has identified, and will continue to identify significant areas where birds live, breed and migrate through. Among those areas locally are the Montezuma Wetland Complex (which includes the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge) and the area around Onondaga Lake.

"Volunteer for a habitat restoration project. Go visit the Montezuma Audubon Center in Savannah and get involved in the programs there. Get involved in the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps," she said.

She said Audubon's membership consists of a wide variety of people who are engaged and share a "deeply personal" connection with birds.

"If you don't believe in climate change, fine. Then help us protect the habitat these birds live in. Protect them now and into the future," she said.

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}