Early onset spring can be a huge problem for birds—especially if freezing temperatures occur after plants have started to grow. When sustained warm temperatures in late winter or early spring cue vegetation growth and are followed by extreme cold snaps, it can cause vegetation damage and disrupt the ecosystem, putting birds at risk. Unseasonably cold temperatures may directly kill birds and have even been known to completely encase birds in ice, causing them to fall from the sky.
Here’s the good news: By focusing on nature-based climate solutions, we can reverse this alarming trend for birds and mitigate the effects of climate change on people and the planet. With your support, we can respond to the greatest challenges facing birds and people today while anticipating the issues—and opportunities—of tomorrow. Just this month, we helped pass the Migratory Birds of the Americas Conservation Enhancements Act, which will expand available funding to protect habitats across the Western Hemisphere. It’s a huge accomplishment that wouldn’t have been possible without the support of bird lovers like you.
The birds you love are in crisis
Altered seasons threaten migratory birds.
This challenge is compounded by habitat loss, extreme weather, and fatal building collisions.
We can change course for the birds we love if we act now.
![Match active now; [protect them] illustration of hummingbird](https://audubon.stagecoachdigital.com/sites/default/files/main-image/2024_UnderHero_Graphic_BroadTailedHummingbird_Match.png)
![Protect them with your gift [donate now]; bird illustrations](https://audubon.stagecoachdigital.com/sites/default/files/appeal/middle-image/2024_May_Mid_Message_GIF.gif)
