News Earth

Climate change may be why birds are migrating earlier across the United States

Birds are migrating earlier in recent decades, which could disrupt feeding and nesting cycles

whimbrel

Every year, whimbrels (Numenius phaeopus) nest in the Canadian and Alaskan tundra before migrating to spend the rest of the year in the mud flats, salt marshes and beaches of the southern United States and South America.

K. Horton/Colorado State Univ.

By Sofie Bates

- More than 2 years ago

A large-scale analysis of bird migrations in the contiguous United States confirms what ornithologists and amateur birders already suspected: Overall, birds’ seasonal long-distance flights are happening earlier than they did a quarter of a century ago.