A new study published in Biodiversity and Conservation links smoke from Canadian wildfires to fewer bird sightings across New York during recent breeding seasons. Smoke episodes in 2023 degraded air quality across the state through June and July, and PM2.5 frequently exceeded World Health Organization guidelines.
Researchers examined PM2.5 during the 2021–2023 breeding seasons and matched those data with nearly 99,000 eBird checklists. They analysed 84 bird species and found that nearly half were less likely to be observed as fine particulate matter rose. Many affected species were migratory forest songbirds, such as warblers, thrushes and vireos.
Lead author Festus Adegbola suggested that smoky conditions can change bird behaviour or make birds harder to detect. Coauthor Adam Wilson noted that some increased sightings may reflect where observers went, not real benefits for birds. The team calls for more study to distinguish detectability from real population declines as wildfires grow with climate change.
Difficult words
- breeding season — time of year when animals reproducebreeding seasons
- PM2.5 — tiny air particles harmful to health
- particulate matter — small solid or liquid particles in air
- migratory — moving regularly between places or seasons
- songbird — small bird that sings, often in forestssongbirds
- detect — to find or notice something by sensing
- observe — to see or record something on purposeobserved
- degrade — to make something worse or lower qualitydegraded
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Have you noticed fewer birds during smoky or poor air days where you live? Why or why not?
- What steps could volunteers take to help scientists tell if fewer sightings are due to behaviour or real declines?
- How might more frequent wildfires affect birds and nature near your town in the future?
