Researchers linked smoke from Canadian wildfires to fewer bird sightings in New York during recent breeding seasons. Smoke made air quality poor, and 2023 had the worst smoke across the state in June and July.
The team studied fine particulate matter (PM2.5) across 2021–2023 and compared it with nearly 99,000 checklists from the eBird project. They found that many species, especially migratory forest songbirds, were less likely to be seen when PM2.5 rose. Some species appeared more often and some showed no change.
Authors say smoke may change bird behaviour or make birds harder to detect, and they call for more study as wildfires increase with climate change.
Difficult words
- wildfire — A large uncontrolled fire in naturewildfires
- particulate matter — Tiny particles in the air that can harm health
- migratory — Moving seasonally from one place to another
- species — A group of animals or plants that are similar
- breeding — The time when animals make and raise young
- detect — To notice or find something with senses
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Have you ever seen smoke from wildfires? What did you notice?
- Do you think smoke can make birds harder to see near your home? Why or why not?
- What would you like researchers to study next about birds and smoke?
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