Submitted by chocolatechipdick t3_yye49p in askscience
I know that it effects food supply and other aspects but curious if it also effects migration habits. Like do birds migrate south later and later in the year and does that have bearing on their mating seasons?
Yes, birds, mammals, and fish have dramatically changed their migration timing as climate change has changed the timing of spring and fall. For example
> … we show phenological shifts in migration of five species – red-backed shrike, spotted flycatcher, common sandpiper, white-winged tern (Palearctic migrants), and diederik cuckoo (intra-African migrant) – between two atlas periods: 1987–1991 and 2007–2012. During this time period, Palearctic migrants advanced their departure from their South African nonbreeding grounds. This trend was mainly driven by waterbirds. No consistent changes were observed for intra-African migrants. Our results suggest that the most consistent drivers of migration phenological shifts act in the northern hemisphere, probably at the breeding grounds.
> Globally, bird migration is occurring earlier in the year, consistent with climate-related changes in breeding resources. … Using direct observations of bar-tailed godwits (Limosa lapponica) departing New Zealand on a 16,000-km journey to Alaska, we show that migration advanced by six days during 2008–2020, and that within-individual advancement was sufficient to explain this population-level change.
—Advancement in long-distance bird migration through individual plasticity in departure
> From 2004 to 2016, we found that the average start of green-up on the calving area advanced by 7.25 days, while the start of migration advanced by 13.64 days, the end of migration advanced by 6.02 days, and the date of peak calving advanced by 9.42 days.
—Response of barren-ground caribou to advancing spring phenology
> We reviewed the evidence for phenotypic responses to recent climate change in fish. Changes in the timing of migration and reproduction, age at maturity, age at juvenile migration, growth, survival and fecundity were associated primarily with changes in temperature.
—Plastic and evolutionary responses to climate change in fish
There are literally hundreds of studies on this.
NAS, but I am a hummingbird rehabilitator in So Cal. We have noticed more species of hummingbirds being found in so Cal year round than just the 3(Anna’s, Allen’s and calliope) officially listed as year round residents here. We also received a call yesterday about a nest with 2 eggs in it. There should not be any eggs being laid around here until next month at the earliest.
Objective-Doctor2785 t1_iwuau39 wrote
I can’t speak specifically to migration, but at least some do when looking for a place to give birth to their offspring. In Northern Manitoba here in Canada I believe it is deer that have started moving more South to give birth because the warmer weather is coming sooner. I’m racking my brain right now to remember more details but climate change is changing all animal behaviour, even ours. I’m sure it has to be affecting migration habits.