NYC’s Urban Wildlife: Climate Change and Vagrancy
NYC’s Urban Wildlife: Climate Change and Vagrancy
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By Julius Marinov - 9th Grade
It's November in New York City.
The forecasts suggest that it will be a long awaited cold winter.
The brisk winds and colors of Fall have already all but faded away. Within the Heart of the city however, a bird associated with the warm Summer haze would be reported: the black chinned hummingbird.
Black chinned hummingbirds are native to the scrublands of the Western United States and Mexico yet this bird has been spotted in New York, thousands of miles away from home.
This species prefers warmer temperatures making it an rare occurrence for it to be seen in the northeast.
Birdwatchers and photographers flocked in response to the buzz (hum?), however this wouldn’t be the only strange sight in the Tri-State area.
Western birds like Ash throated Flycatchers and Western Tanagers appeared all throughout Southern New York. Within a retirement community in New Jersey, a prized red flanked bluetail, rare to see beyond Russia, would soon be found for the first time in the Eastern United States.
All of these rare visitors had been seen within the past few weeks, their presence alone amazing bird enthusiasts and pedestrians alike.
But why does this happen? Every animal has a set range and they would do anything to not end up on the wrong side of the pasture. Right?
Well that isn’t always the case. From the fifteenth century onwards many people have recorded birds that were simply lost.
However, recently more birds have been found in the wrong places and a potential culprit is climate change.
As the planet warms, some species opt to overwinter in a colder habitat and refuse to migrate. Along with this studies have shown that many species like Rufous hummingbirds, blue jays and Townsend’s Solitaires have changed their migration patterns and go under range shifts.
Hurricanes and other tropical storms increasing in regularity consequently make birds more expected to end up in the wrong places. Despite the planet being 1 degree warmer than pre industrial levels-- these tropical storms have become more violent.
The events occurring create shared but unique issues on our planet. Many animals are adapting to changes but not quick enough.
It is projected by scientists that the global temperature would rise up to 2 degrees celsius if carbon emissions aren’t reduced to over 50 percent.
People are scrambling to find a way to put a stop to rising temperatures. Our most unassuming wildlife may hold the insight to how to end a warming climate before it gets too late.
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