NEIGHBORHOOD FLYWAYS
CITIES AS CLIMATE REFUGIA FOR BIRDS AND WILDLIFE
Urban Forestry SymposiumMay 21, 2019
Joshua Morris | Urban Conservation ManagerJennifer Lang | Conservation and Science
Coordinator
Photo by Glenn Bartley
I. Introduction to Seattle AudubonII. Historical and continuing threats to birdsIII.Projected climate change impacts to birdsIV.Role of the urban forest in supporting birdsV. Opportunities and challenges going forward
OUTLINE
Photo by Glenn Bartley
Seattle AudubonServing Seattle, birds, and nature since 1916
We lead a local community in appreciating, understanding, and protecting birds.
VARIED THRUSH
Photo by Glenn Bartley
VARIED THRUSH
Photo by Glenn BartleyPhoto by Sarah McDevitt (Creative Commons)
HISTORICAL SEATTLE
Photo by Glenn Bartley
Image credit: Burke Museum, Waterlines ProjectN
SEATTLE TODAY
Photo by Glenn Bartley
Image credit: Google EarthN
54% OF U.S. NOW SUBURBAN/URBAN MATRIX
Photo by Daniel Lobo (Creative Commons)
Plants in suburban and urban areas tend to be about 80% non-native.
II. Threats
INVASIVE SPECIES ALSO TAKE A TOLL.
Image credit: Vishnevskiy Vasiliy/iStockphoto
X 2.4 BILLION
SO DOES GLASS.
Image credit: Joshua Morris
X 1 BILLION
AND POLLUTION.
Image credit: Chris Jordan
POLLUTION
Image credit: Puget Soundkeeper Alliance
HUMAN EXPLOITATION AND PERSECUTION, TOO.
Image credit: Metropolitan Museum of Art Image credit: Smith Bennet/Creative Commons
CITIES CAN BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS FOR BIRDS
Image credit: FTiare / iStock
CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE PNW
The combined impacts of increasing wildfire, insect outbreaks, and tree diseases are already causing widespread tree die-off.
National Climate Assessment 2018
CLIMATE CHANGE AND BIRDS
Climate Change Shifts in Range
For plants and wildlife, climate change affects their ability to survive in their current location
Image credit: National Audubon’s Birds and Climate Change Report 2014
CLIMATE CHANGE AND BIRDS
Image credit: Carolyn McDonald/Audubon Photography Awards
At least 168 climate threatened species in WA. Around half are forest dependent.
Image credit: Gregg Thompson/Bird Note
72% of summer range lost by 2080 79% of summer range lost by 208076% of summer range lost by 2080
AMERICAN KESTREL WILSON’S WARBLER
BROWN CREEPER
Image credit: Heather Roskelly/Audubon Photography Awards
CLIMATE WATCH: BIRD RESPONSE TO CLIMATE CHANGE Community science program exploring how North American birds are responding to climate change
Image credit: Megumi Aita/Audubon Photography Awards
CLIMATE WATCH: BIRD RESPONSE TO CLIMATE CHANGE Community science program exploring how North American birds are responding to climate change
Image credit: Megumi Aita/Audubon Photography Awards
CLIMATE WATCH: BIRD RESPONSE TO CLIMATE CHANGE Community science program exploring how North American birds are responding to climate change
Image credit: Megumi Aita/Audubon Photography Awards
CLIMATE WATCH: BIRD RESPONSE TO CLIMATE CHANGE Community science program exploring how North American birds are responding to climate change
Image credit: Megumi Aita/Audubon Photography Awards
THE URBAN FOREST CAN HELP
CASE: GRAY-HEADED FLYING FOX IN AUSTRALIA
Image credit: Andrew Mercer/Wikimedia Commons
HOW CAN THE URBAN FOREST PROVIDE ABUNDANT, YEAR-
ROUND RESOURCES TO BIRDS AND OTHER WILDLIFE?
NEED 1: ROOSTING
Image credit: Dennis Paulson/Slater Museum of Natural History
NEED 2: FOOD
Image credit: Mick Thompson/Eastside Audubon
NEED 2: FOOD
Theresa Scheller/Audubon Photography AwardsImage credit: Robert Cook/Audubon Photography AwardsImage credit: Nick Saunders/Great Backyard Bird Count
NEED 3: PROTECTION/SHELTER
Image credit: Joshua Morris
Image credit: Ed Macie
NEIGHBORHOOD BIRD PROJECT
Documenting Urban Bird Populations in Seattle City Parks
● Established in 1994, currently in nine
city parks
● Standard protocol surveys to record
birds monthly throughout the year
● Total of 215 species and 133,330
individual birds recorded since 1996
BIGGER IS BETTER
Terrestrial Species-Area Curve
Goal: Unbroken habitat corridors all across the city.
Goal: Unbroken habitat corridors all across the city.
NEIGHBORHOOD FLYWAYS AT SCHOOL
SEATTLE’S URBAN FORESTS
Forest dependent species live in Seattle’s Urban Greenspaces year-round
Pileated WoodpeckerImage: Gary Mueller / Great Backyard Bird Count
Varied ThrushImage: Heather Roskelly / Audubon Photography Awards
Brown CreeperImage: Roseanne Caleca / Audubon Photography Awards
LESS CANOPY COVER = FEWER OBSERVED BIRDS
LESS CANOPY COVER = FEWER OBSERVED BIRDS
SEWARD PARK IS AN OUTLIER. WHY?
SUGGESTIVE MODEL FOR TREE LOSS IN SEATTLE
28% Canopy Cover in 2016.0.09 Observation Frequency Index
SUGGESTIVE MODEL FOR TREE LOSS IN SEATTLE
23% Canopy Cover0.04 Observation Frequency Index
28% Canopy Cover in 20160.09 Observation Frequency Index
SUGGESTIVE MODEL FOR TREE LOSS IN SEATTLE
30% Canopy Cover0.11 Observation Frequency Index
23% Canopy Cover0.04 Observation Frequency Index
28% Canopy Cover in 20160.09 Observation Frequency Index
SUMMARY
Birds face many threats.
Climate change exacerbates challenges to birds.
Our urban forest could provide refuge.
Our urban forest is declining.
CHALLENGES
● Tree protection ordinance● High percentage of SFR● Pocket/rooftop habitats● Environmentally friendly
population ● Passionate tree advocate
community in Seattle
●Tree protection ordinance
●Few incentives to keep trees
●Native conifers not preferred for landscaping/along streets.
●Continuing development
OPPORTUNITIES
