Photo © Cynthia Kristensen

Heat Wave Impacts on Nests

Researchers from the University of California, Davis recently investigated how heat waves impact the nesting success of numerous generalist bird species. As reported today in the prestigious journal Science, they found that forests buffered nesting birds from the effects of extreme heat, whereas nests in open agricultural landscapes suffered a 30% decline in survival. The negative impact of heat waves in agricultural areas is projected to worsen with climate change, but could be curtailed if emissions are lowered. A summary of the research—plus tips for helping birds cope with warmer temperatures—can be found on our blog.