Environmental groups say climate change is the biggest threat in the 21st century to migratory birds in the Great Lakes.
Every year, hundreds of migratory bird species pass through the Great Lakes region.
But a new National Wildlife Federation report says climate change is reducing the range that these birds need to survive the journey.
The report says climate change is affecting where migratory birds can feed and raise their young.
“We are seeing birds starting to change their habits based on climate change,” says Christopher Hoving, a specialist in wildlife adaptation with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources
But Hoving and others admit it’s hard to pin down whether climate change can be singled out as the reason why some bird populations appear to be declining.
Still, the National Wildlife Federation report does warn that some migratory bird species may face extinction unless the use of fossil fuels is reduced so the pace of climate change can be slowed.
