Protecting Allen’s Hummingbird and Other California Species in the Face of Climate Change
The Allen’s Hummingbird is a bird species that is endangered by climate change.
In order to understand where 604 North American bird species currently reside, known as their “range,” Audubon scientists analyzed a vast collection of 140 million observations made by birders and scientists.
They utilized the most recent climate models to predict how each species’ range will shift as climate change and other human impacts progress across the continent.
The findings are clear: Birds will be compelled to relocate in search of suitable habitats, and their survival may be at stake.
California birds are particularly vulnerable to climate change. Highly and moderately vulnerable bird species may lose more than half of their current range—the geographical area they inhabit—as they are forced to seek new habitats with suitable climate conditions.
Birds that breed or spend winters in your area are especially vulnerable throughout their entire range. Some birds may even lose range outside of your state, making the preservation of their current habitat in your area even more crucial.
Highly vulnerable bird species include iconic Californian birds such as the California Quail, Allen’s Hummingbird, Nuttall’s Woodpecker, Yellow-billed Magpie, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cassin’s Kingbird, Bushtit, Acorn Woodpecker, and many others.
These are birds that we are all familiar with, whether from observing them in our backyards or through personal experiences in California’s stunning natural environment.
Audubon California is tackling this challenge by protecting the habitats that we know birds will require both now and in the future, and by taking measures to mitigate the severity of global warming.
We will work with various partners on the ground and in government institutions like the State Capitol and Washington, D.C. However, we cannot rise to this challenge without the involvement of California residents who care about birds. We need people not only to join us in this important endeavor but also to raise their voices in support of meaningful policy and legislative action on climate change.
