As the snow falls across Chautauqua County and Western New York let us take a moment to remember when it was not a frigid arctic tundra and birds were singing, flowers blooming, and so forth…a few weeks ago. Those species that are expanding their range and trying to conquer new territory to the north as climate change makes it feasible are in for a rude awakening this week. Birds like this Northern Mockingbird or the Carolina Wren might have been living it up recently, feeding on anything they like in warm and mostly snow-free conditions. Now they will be in deep trouble, struggling to feed when all the more calories are needed. No, it is not a “big deal” to overall conservation and these couple of species – and the others expanding northward – are mostly not in significant trouble. But for those pioneers stuck in a life-threatening weather situation because of the extremes of a changing climate it is a very serious problem indeed.
Scott Kruitbosch
Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
