Climate change is causing more intense and frequent heatwaves across the world. One of the lesser known effects of this extreme weather is how it impacts breeding birds, especially in regions like southern Britain and continetal europe. With Environment Agency declaring droughts in certain part of the region and NDG asking people to play their part in managing water wisely, this also affects the local and migratory birds causing overheating for chicks, scarcity of food and thirst.
Weather plays an important role in birds life, specially during nesting phase. Birds are sensitive to varing climatic conditions and require right conditions for nesting, laying eggs and rasing chicks. Extreme weather events like excess winter or summer can be dangerous to these little ones.
Problems Caused by Heatwaves
When heatwaves last for many days, they can hurt birds in the following ways:
- Overheating: Baby bird can get too hot in their nest, especially in direct sunlight.
- Lack of Food: Birds depends mainly on insects or grains for their diet. Improper weather makes it harder to find food where the ground is dry and hard for birds to reach for food.
- Lack of water: Water bodies drying up and various human policies over use to water affects birds during hot weather. Birds need water to stay cool and hydrated.
Long-Term side effects of climate change on Birds
Scientists believe that climate change will make summer drought and heatwaves more common in future. While some birds will struggle with the changes, some will adapt to survive in hotter dried regions. Other birds may move northwards in more cooler places for survival.
A 2021 report from the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) found that birds living in upland areas and near the sea are already facing problems due to climate change. These birds may lose their homes or food sources if warming continues. At the same time, about half of the breeding birds in the UK are not yet affected. But experts say it is still important to watch them closely, so we can protect them if needed.
What can we do to help
There are small actions that can help birds during hot weather:
- Keep bird baths filled with clean water.
- Place water trays in shaded areas to prevent overheating.
- Avoid using pesticides, which can reduce the number of insects birds need for food.
These simple steps can help breeding birds stay healthy during difficult summer conditions.
As climate change continues to cause longer and stronger heatwaves, its effects on nature are becoming more visible. While warm days can be good for birds, extreme heat brings serious risks. Understanding these changes can help us take small but important actions to support bird species and protect biodiversity.