HMANA’s Climate Committee is charged with investigating how climate change affects raptor populations and migrations, both now and in the future. As both climate change and monitoring raptors are relatively recent, teasing out migration changes caused by climate from ordinary weather variations or other human-related factors can be challenging.

At least some changing wind patterns appear to be climate related, as fewer and weaker northwest winds in fall affect where raptors migrate. This change is already affecting some long-term migration sites, bypassing some traditional watch sites. Increased fires in the west, which are climate-related, are affecting visibility at sites there, and decreased visibility affects the counts. As the climate changes, so do the habitats where raptors and other birds live. Habitat changes such as trees growing and affecting visibility at watch sites can be ordinary growth or a sign that the habitat is changing. Many southern species of trees and plants are already “moving” more northward, bringing with them birds and insects that thrive in those landscapes.

The Climate Committee is developing a list of resources that document existing or predict future changes to climate that is or will affect bird and raptor populations. Please check back periodically, as our list is added to and updated regularly.