How a Changing Climate Could Affect Florida Birds at Risk

Florida is understood for its birdlife—Its wealthy range of habitats accommodates tons of of species year-round and seasonally rolls out the welcome mat to many extra migratory birds. Nevertheless, a couple of third of all American hen species are experiencing declining inhabitants developments on account of a myriad of threats, together with warming temperatures and sea stage rise.

In keeping with the 2025 State of the Birds report, 42 species nationwide have been recognized as Tipping Level species—birds with perilously low populations and steep declining developments. Which of them are we watching in Florida?

Wilson’s Plover

Over the previous few many years, shorebird species have skilled accelerated inhabitants loss charges—nearly three-quarters are struggling continued drops of their numbers regardless of current conservation efforts. With an estimated inhabitants of fewer than 1,000 Florida birds, Wilson’s Plovers and their habitats are in danger.

Wilson’s Plovers are dependent upon pure coastal habitats for meals and nest websites – they lay their eggs proper on the sand and lift their households amidst the dunes and surf. All summer season, they deal with coastal storms which can be getting bigger and extra intense because the ocean warms. These birds are additionally threatened by improvement and disturbance, and now sea stage rise is lowering the accessible house between lapping waves and the constructed atmosphere.

The species is listed as threatened or endangered in different states. To cease their Florida numbers from declining additional, in 2023, Audubon petitioned the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Fee to record them as a state-designated threatened species. At beach-nesting websites, Audubon workers and volunteer stewards educate guests and be sure that beachgoers don’t disturb Wilson’s plovers the place they’re breeding.

Learn more about volunteering as a bird steward.

Florida Scrub-Jay

The Florida Scrub-Jay is Florida’s solely endemic hen species. These birds have already misplaced a lot of their habitat—excessive, dry scrub the place acorns are quite a few—to builders. Now, they’re additionally being affected by local weather change.

In keeping with a examine of Florida Scrub-Jays at Archbold Organic Station, the birds are nesting earlier in response to hotter temperatures. The examine confirmed that first-nesting dates have superior by roughly every week over the examine interval. Despite the fact that the variety of nests constructed by every jay pair elevated by 33%, the general variety of profitable fledges declined by 25%. The Archbold group suspects that hotter winters imply predators, particularly snakes, are additionally turning into extra lively earlier within the breeding season. As a result of jays nest only some meters off the bottom, they’re notably susceptible to those reptilian predators.

To raised doc these declines and assess their long-term inhabitants well being, constant, long-term monitoring of nesting efforts and the quantity and distribution of lively colonies is required with a view to design conservation options. Neighborhood scientists with Audubon’s Jay Watch program are serving to us perceive how jay populations are doing at a statewide scale, offering the knowledge we have to maintain them protected now and into the long run. 

Get involved in Jay Watch.