Audubon's Birds and Climate Change Report
314 Species on the Brink
Shrinking and shifting ranges could imperil nearly half of U.S. birds within this century
By 2080, this diurnal owl species could lose 77 percent of its breeding range.
Erik Walker
Audubon's Birds and Climate Change Report
314 Species on the Brink
Shrinking and shifting ranges could imperil nearly half of U.S. birds within this century
By 2080, this glittering hummingbird may lose 100 percent of its winter range in the U.S.
John Kieffer/Outside Imagery
Audubon's Birds and Climate Change Report
314 Species on the Brink
Shrinking and shifting ranges could imperil nearly half of U.S. birds within this century
By 2080, this great icon of the north could lose 75 percent of its winter range.
Jim Brandenburg/Minden Pictures/Corbis
Audubon's Birds and Climate Change Report
314 Species on the Brink
Shrinking and shifting ranges could imperil nearly half of U.S. birds within this century
The national symbol of the United States is projected to lose 73% of its current breeding range by 2080.
Greg Craybas
Audubon's Birds and Climate Change Report
314 Species on the Brink
Shrinking and shifting ranges could imperil nearly half of U.S. birds within this century.
By 2080, this grassland bird is expected to lose 100 percent of its current breeding range.
Tony Bynum
Audubon scientists have used hundreds of thousands of citizen-science observations and sophisticated climate models to predict how birds in the U.S. and Canada will react to climate change. Our work defines the climate conditions birds need to survive, then maps where those conditions will be found in the future as the Earth’s climate responds to increased greenhouse gases.
It’s the broadest and most detailed study of its kind, and it’s the closest thing we have to a field guide to the future of North American birds.
by Michelle Nijhuis
by National Audubon Society
Everything you need to know about our findings, their implications, and how to interpret the data for the birds you care about.
Photo Credit: David Alan Harvey/National Geographic Creative
Audubon’s findings classify 314 species—nearly half of all North American birds—as severely threatened by global warming. Our interactive maps show how each of these at-risk birds’ potential ranges could expand, contract, or shift in both summer and winter as our climate changes.
Use our geographical search to see how climate could affect birds near you.
Explore more birds threatened by climate change around the country.
These findings are alarming, but within them also lies hope. For many species, the report has identified climate strongholds—geographic areas that will provide shelter against the onslaught of climate change. Audubon is mobilizing its vast network to protect these strongholds now, and you can join us.
by David Yarnold, President and CEO
Nearly half of our birds are at risk of extinction this century. That doesn't have to happen.
by National Audubon Society
The science is in. Now Audubon needs your help to ensure birds have a bright future.
Photo Credit: Michael Libbe
Audubon Magazine has devoted its entire September/October 2014 issue to birds and climate change. Read all the issue's stories here:
by National Audubon Society
by National Audubon Society
by Andrea Alfano
by Clara Chaisson
It’s hard to stay positive in the face of perpetual bad news. Seven leading environmentalists offer their strategies.
by Andrea Alfano
by Purbita Saha
by Susan Kieffer
by Purbita Saha
by Chelsea Harvey
Satellite images are a far-out way to monitor wildlife populations, including penguins and polar bears. Here's how it works.
by Manon Verchot
From Louisiana’s Brown Pelican to Minnesota’s Common Loon, ten state birds could leave the states that honor them by the end of this century.
by Susan E. Matthews
Audubon’s Climate Change Report comes with a side of data. Here’s how news organizations are reimagining the message.
by Raillan Brooks
Photographers capture a dozen scenes of a changing planet.
Five unexpected agitators on climate explain why they're speaking out.
by Elizabeth Kolbert
Beyond politics and paralysis lies a way forward—to action.
by Andrew C. Revkin
It’s time to be honest with ourselves: Our relationship with the atmosphere is a two-way street.
by T. Edward Nickens
Growing demand for wood pellets abroad hurts bird habitat at home.
by Carl Safina
In warming oceans, seabirds’ food chains are headed straight to the bottom.
by Alisa Opar
Audubon's chief scientist is plotting a future for birds. Here's how they could survive.
by Terry L. Root
Computer models, while imperfect, may be the best shot we have for understanding what climate change will bring.
by Raillan Brooks
These solutions could stem emissions from food, fuel, and beyond.
by Justin Nobel
From Miami to Key West, climate change is now in southeastern Florida.
by Daniel Glick
A growing number of institutions are letting their money do the talking.
by Noah Strycker
With our climate becoming ever more off-kilter, a naturalist takes stock of the ends of the earth.
by Tom Peterson
The U.S. could still make it to Kyoto—we're already partway there.
by Thomas C. Heller
Economic growth may be less of an enemy to climate action than we thought.
by Jigar Shah
Solar and wind energy are already feasible options.
by Tom Peterson
The incremental changes that could make the Kyoto 2020 goals a reality.
by Charis Tsevis
Charis Tsevis repurposes John James Audubon’s paintings to create the stunning cover image for Audubon’s climate issue.
by Josh Brill
Artist Josh Brill takes a fresh look at a fading species.
Protecting birds from climate change is a central pillar of Audubon’s mission. In the hands of the Audubon network around the country, this data will drive our conservation efforts now and into the future.
Going forward, we will be making this extraordinary data set more widely available outside of Audubon, both to further effective, targeted conservation efforts and to combine it with other open data sets to enable others to create powerful visualizations.
Because we believe everyone has a role to play in finding solutions that protect birds and people alike, we are compelled to get these tools in as many hands as possible. If you are a conservation or data visualization professional who is interested in learning more about this work and how you can participate, please get in touch.
Photo Credit: John Huba
Send your loved ones warm holiday wishes with Audubon’s new eCards, which feature birds Audubon is working to protect in the face of climate change.