This could mean the summer departure of birds such as various types of loons and rock wren and the arrival of species such as the Carolina chickadee and the California scrub jay.
At Mount Rainier, summer could see the departure of 12 species including the mountain bluebird and Nashville Warbler and the arrival of six species such as California thrasher and the mountain quail. Winter could see the departure of three species and the arrival of 12.
Summers at North Cascades National Park may no longer include the chipping sparrow and the American pipit but could add the mountain quail, ring-necked pheasant, western gull and blue-winged warbler. In winter, the park could become suitable for 18 species of birds not currently in the park, while the brown creeper might no longer find conditions suitable.
“These drastic climate projections underscore the important role our national parks play as habitat for birds, today and tomorrow,” said Joanna Wu, an Audubon biologist who was was the lead author for the study. “Scenarios with lower greenhouse gas emissions result in a lower average bird turnover.
Each park will receive a brief explaining which birds might leave and which might colonize the park.
“With new birds coming in and familiar birds heading out, the stewards of America’s public lands will need to prepare for substantial changes in the near future,” said Gregor Schuurman, a National Park Service ecologist who co-authored the study.
The study classified parks into five groups: High turnover overall, high potential extirpation, high potential colonization, intermediate change and low change.
Mount Rainier was classified as high potential extirpation, Olympic is considered high turnover and North Cascades is listed as low change.
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With spring weather comes tick season and snakes and poison oak along hiking trails and in area parks. Check yourself and pets after walking in tall grass. Ticks eat blood and can transmit and cause diseases.
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