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Birds are abandoning migration across the US, scientists warn of threat to humanity
Researchers have found that birds across the United States are adopting a worrying new behavior, which could foreshadow serious consequences for humans.
Birds are refusing to follow their usual migration routes, while rising temperatures in their wintering areas are disrupting annual flights. Scientists fear that if this behavior continues, it could have devastating effects on people, according to Daily Mail.
Birds display “alarming” behavior
Andrew Farnsworth, a visiting scientist at Cornell University, explained that data show birds are abandoning their normal migration routes, and higher temperatures in their winter habitats are interfering with annual movements. While the issue might seem minor at first glance, experts warn it could lead to the extinction of many bird species, dramatically altering ecosystems.
Birds play a vital role in human life by controlling pests, spreading seeds, and pollinating plants. Approximately 5% of plants used for food and medicine rely on bird pollination. As a result, fewer birds would survive due to difficulties finding food amid shifting seasons, reducing food production and disrupting ecological balance.
Farnsworth’s research shows that rising temperatures in regions like the Arctic and northern forests, combined with challenges such as wildfires, make survival increasingly difficult for birds. According to the National Audubon Society, about 389 North American bird species—nearly two-thirds of those studied—are expected to face extinction over the next 50 years. By 2080, these birds could lose more than half of their habitats.
Earlier research from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology found that since 1970, roughly three billion birds have disappeared from North America. This mass decline affects pollination of tropical crops such as bananas, coffee, and cocoa, which are used to produce chocolate. Pollination problems also threaten medicinal plants used in pharmaceuticals and traditional medicine.
Consequences of declining bird populations
If bird populations continue to shrink, farmers could struggle to grow enough food, leading to higher costs and reduced global food availability.
Farnsworth cites multiple factors behind mass bird declines, including habitat loss, climate change, pesticide use, and human-related threats such as urban development and collisions with windows.
The link between bird behavior and climate is extremely tight. Rising global temperatures have already altered seasonal cycles, causing birds to leave nests earlier or later than usual in warming regions. This can result in birds arriving at feeding areas before food sources are available.
Consequently, birds face starvation and difficulty finding mates and food, further reducing populations—fewer birds survive each winter. Some species have already been affected.
Interestingly, humans who feed birds may worsen the situation by discouraging migration and attracting predators to the remaining birds.
