Birds and wind farms/climate change

General birdwatching discussion, help with bird identification, and all other things relating to wild birds and birding in NZ that don't fit in one of the other forums.
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Michael Szabo
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Marine populations declined by half since 1970

Postby Michael Szabo » Thu Sep 17, 2015 8:30 am

"Populations of marine mammals, seabirds, marine fish and marine reptiles have declined by 49% since 1970, a new study says. Some species that people rely on for food are faring even worse, noting a 74% drop in the populations of tuna and mackerel. In addition to human activity such as overfishing, the report also says climate change is having an impact."

http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-34265672
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Michael Szabo
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10 climate change 'canaries' in NZ

Postby Michael Szabo » Mon Oct 12, 2015 1:33 pm

"Climate change is predicted to transform New Zealand forever, bringing high sea levels, hotter days, and more extreme weather. As our environment begins to shift, can we take early cues from the species around us? Science reporter Jamie Morton looks at 10 examples (including 2 seabird species)."

Link to story: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/artic ... d=11527479
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Michael Szabo
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Climate change latest threat to Hawaii's endemic birds

Postby Michael Szabo » Mon Oct 12, 2015 5:33 pm

Hawaii Island’s endemic bird populations have been pressured for centuries because of disease, habitat loss, predation and loss of prey. Recent work by biologists at the United States Geologic Survey Pacific Island Ecosystem Research Center indicates climate change also could threaten the populations as rising temperatures create conditions that allow mosquitoes — vectors for avian malaria and avian pox — to thrive at previously inaccessible elevations. The pattern already has been observed on Kauai’s Alakai Plateau, where populations of two native honeycreepers, the akikiki and akekee, have declined as temperature increases and changes in rainfall and stream-flow patterns created prime habitat for mosquitoes. Avian malaria, an introduced disease particularly devastating to the Hawaiian honeycreepers, is caused by protozoan parasites and transmitted by the southern house mosquito (also an introduced species). Pox is a virus that creates lesions on the bird’s feet and in its mouth. It likely was introduced in the 1820s."

http://hawaiitribune-herald.com/news/lo ... emic-birds
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Michael Szabo
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Marine food chains at risk of collapse, study shows

Postby Michael Szabo » Tue Oct 13, 2015 9:06 pm

"The food chains of the world’s oceans are at risk of collapse due to the release of greenhouse gases, a stark new analysis shows. A study of 632 published experiments of the world’s oceans, from tropical to arctic waters, spanning coral reefs and the open seas, found that climate change is whittling away the diversity and abundance of marine species. The paper, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, found there was “limited scope” for animals to deal with warming waters and acidification, with very few species escaping the negative impact of increasing carbon dioxide dissolution in the oceans."

Link to story: http://www.theguardian.com/environment/ ... ns-reveals

Link to study: http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2015/ ... 92592a6201
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Michael Szabo
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Old Altamont Pass wind turbines to close

Postby Michael Szabo » Fri Nov 06, 2015 12:35 pm

"The power company that operates about 800 [old] turbines in the Altamont Pass is shutting down its operations. The decision was applauded by environmental groups, which for years have been fighting to build awareness around the large numbers of golden eagles, raptors, burrowing owls and other birds that are killed by turbines."

This is a welcome step since this is a poorly chosed location on the migration route for many species. The turbines are also old, with many dating from ther 1970s, and so pose a greater risk to birds.

http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_29048835/ ... lamed-bird
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Jan
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Re: Birds and wind farms/climate change

Postby Jan » Fri Nov 06, 2015 12:47 pm

Michael, you haven't pointed out that there is a world-wide 'climate change march' happening on 28th Nov 2015.
Several organisations are involved in planning this to get as many people as possible to show they are so concerned about climate change to show themselves publicly in centres all over the country. Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin all have events that I know about.
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Michael Szabo
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Re: Birds and wind farms/climate change

Postby Michael Szabo » Thu Jun 23, 2016 6:30 pm

"In a study published in the journal Science, Dr. van Gils and his colleagues present evidence that indicates climate change is putting pressure on Red Knots along their entire journey, possibly helping to drive down the birds’ population and making them yet another of many species around the world being affected by climate change. The new study shows how climate change can create ecological ripples that can threaten a species in unexpected ways."

Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/17/scien ... .html?_r=0
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Michael Szabo
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Re: Birds and wind farms/climate change

Postby Michael Szabo » Thu Jun 23, 2016 6:32 pm

"From soaring temperatures in Alaska and India to Arctic sea ice melting and CO2 concentrations rising, this year is smashing records around the world."

Link: https://www.theguardian.com/environment ... ar-in-2016
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Michael Szabo
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Re: Birds and wind farms/climate change

Postby Michael Szabo » Fri Jul 01, 2016 10:00 am

Antarctica Could Lose Most of Its Penguins to Climate Change - National Geographic

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016 ... e-refugia/
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Neil Fitzgerald
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Re: Birds and wind farms/climate change

Postby Neil Fitzgerald » Mon Oct 24, 2016 6:51 am

Long-term ocean monitoring shows that oxygen concentrations in the ocean have declined during the 20th century, and the new IPCC 5th Assessment Report (AR5 WG1) predicts that they will decrease by 3-6% during the 21st century in response to surface warming

http://www.theinertia.com/environment/a ... g-by-2030/

This will affect phytoplankton, and therfore the whole ocean food chain, including seabirds. The Tasman sea and east and north Pacific are predicted change in the relatively near future, and it seems like it is already too late to prevent it.

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