This past July was the hottest month in history and the impacts of this extreme heat was and is felt in every corner of our planet—and our birds are no exception.
Did you know that instead of sweating, birds pant to cool themselves? Their panting cools themselves by evaporating water. But if they’re unable to replenish their water lost, these birds are often unable to recover and die in the heat.
Right before our eyes, we’re watching extreme heat related bird deaths happen more and more often as our planet warms to dangerous degrees.
And if we don’t act swiftly, birds like the American Goldfinch, Cactus Wren, and the Caspian Tern will face much higher risks of dehydration and even death.
Extreme heat is only predicted to increase in intensity, frequency, and length in the coming years—and even birds not directly killed by extreme heat can suffer long-term health damage as a result.
But thanks to generous support from people like you, we’re building a more sustainable future for birds and people alike. Through research, advocacy, and hands-on conservation action to maintain and protect resilient landscapes across the nation, we are pushing for the large-scale change it will take to ease habitat loss and help reverse the climbing temperatures of the climate crisis.
Climate-vulnerable birds are counting on you
July 2023 was the hottest month ever recorded.
Severe heat waves are predicted to increase in intensity, frequency, and duration in the coming years.
According to the North American Breeding Bird Survey, the American Goldfinch lost over a quarter of their population between 1966 and 2019.
