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Changes in spring arrival dates and temperature sensitivity of migratory birds over two centuries
Eva Kolářová1, Michael Matiu2, Annette Menzel2,3
1Faculty of Science, Department of Zoology and Laboratory of Ornithology, Palacký University, 17. listopadu 50, 77146, Olomouc, Czech Republic. evakolar@seznam.cz.
International Journal of Biometeorology
|February 2, 2017
Summary
Centennial bird arrival data reveal earlier spring arrivals in recent decades. Birds arrived earlier in the 19th century than during the recent warm period, showing climate change impacts on avian phenology.
Area of Science:
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
- Climate Change Science
- Ornithology
Background:
- Long-term phenological data are vital for understanding climate change impacts on wildlife.
- Most animal time series are shorter than 35 years, limiting insights into pre-recent warming trends.
- Avian phenology, specifically first arrival dates, offers a sensitive indicator of environmental shifts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze 183 years of bird first arrival dates in Central Europe (1828-2010).
- To investigate avian responses to climate change using a centennial-scale dataset.
- To compare temperature sensitivity of migration timing across different historical periods.
Main Methods:
- Compilation and analysis of mean first arrival dates for 13 bird species from 1828 to 2010.
- Statistical examination of trends in arrival dates over time.
- Calculation and comparison of temperature sensitivity of arrival dates during distinct climatic periods.
Main Results:
- A consistent trend of earlier arrival dates observed since the late 1970s.
- Earlier arrivals noted in the cooler early 19th century compared to the recent warm period.
- Increased temperature sensitivity of arrival dates for both short- and long-distance migrants in recent decades.
Conclusions:
- Centennial-scale phenological data provide a more comprehensive understanding of avian responses to climate change.
- Bird migration timing has shifted significantly, with notable changes in temperature sensitivity.
- Long-term datasets are essential for robustly assessing ecological impacts of global warming.
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