Climate Change Pushing Birds North

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Birds moving north in response to climate change

According to information released by Audubon and BirdLife USA, an analysis of data gathered over the last forty years has shown a dramatic shift in the natural ranges for as many as 177 US Bird species in response to climate change. The shifts correspond closely to average winter temperatures over the affected regions.

The shifting species represent 58% of bird species that overwinter on the North American continent and showed that birds that typically inhabit forested areas were more likely to move their ranges northward than grassland birds, likely due to the absence of suitable grassland habitat in the northern extremes of their range.

Audubon scientists point out that birds already threatened by habitat loss and encroaching suburbia, are now being further displaced by the effects of climate change. BirdLife’s Dr. Stuart Butchart was quoted in the release as saying “There is now plenty of evidence that bird species are shifting their ranges northwards and to higher altitudes, and that their timing of breeding and migration is shifting forwards in response to climate change.”

The conclusions of this research are indeed backed up by numerous other studies including one released through Science Daily, by researchers from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry based on data collected for breeding bird atlases of New York state in the early 1980’s and from 2000-2005. Although the data from the SUNY study was limited geographically, birth studies found birds extending their ranges northward and abandoning the southern extremes of their range as they move.

For Manchester birdwatchers, the Audubon study detailed northward range migration for a number of birds popular among New Hampshire birders. Use the following chart with pictures of each bird as a quick reference. CLICK THE ARTICLE LINK AT THE TOP OF THIS POST TO VIEW THE CHART.

102-acre preserved farmland in Pilesgrove

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102-acre preserved farm adds to Pilesgrove green belt in Salem County

There haven’t been vegetables and flowers grown on Samuel and Loretta Musumeci’s farm for many years. But that could soon change, now that the couple has placed their 102-acre Whig Lane Road property in farmland preservation.

New Jersey Conservation Foundation recently purchased a farmland easement on the Salem County property, ensuring that it will remain in agriculture forever. The sale of the easement means that Sam Musumeci, a third-generation farmer, will be able to go back to growing the tomatoes, peppers, asparagus, corn and other crops that he was forced to discontinue.

Loretta Musumeci explained that in order to make ends meet more than a dozen years ago, her husband went into business renovating golf courses. The Musumecis didn’t abandon farming altogether, but planted their fields in soybeans, a low-maintenance crop.

But renovating golf courses isn’t what Sam was raised to do. “I want to retire from that and go back to the farm,” he said, citing plans to return to growing garden vegetables and flowers on his land next year.

Sam Musumeci said his decision to sell the farmland easement was also motivated by a desire to keep Pilesgrove Township – where he and his wife have lived since 1967 and raised their two daughters - rural. “I just didn’t want to see houses on it,” he said of his property.

The Musumecis’ philosophy toward preserving farmland happens to mesh perfectly with that of the township.

'We'll work with anyone we can'

“We’re probably one of the more active towns in the state on farmland and open space,” said Deputy Mayor Ed Kille, noting that in 2003, Pilesgrove Township taxpayers approved a dedicated tax of 3 cents per $100 of assessed valuation to fund its preservation efforts.

By approving the dedicated tax, Kille explained, residents demonstrated that the preservation of farmland and open space is essential to maintaining their quality of life. The fund generated by the tax enables the township to partner with county, state and non-profit sources to purchase easements and permanently protect important parcels of land.

“We’ll work with anyone we can,” said Kille, emphasizing the township’s desire to continue preservation efforts.

The Musumeci farm is near the 85-acre Caltabiano family farm and 143-acre Ostrum family farm, both of which New Jersey Conservation Foundation helped preserve in 2007; and the 220-acre Byrnes family farm, which the foundation helped preserve in 2008.

Kille said there has been “intense development pressure” on Pilesgrove and surrounding towns in recent years. On the north side of Oldman’s Creek, which forms the township’s boundary with Gloucester County, there is considerable new construction. Woolwich Township in Gloucester County, the fastest-growing municipality in the state, is immediately adjacent to Pilesgrove.

Public-private partnership

Funding for the Musumeci farmland preservation project came from a public-private partnership. New Jersey Conservation Foundation arranged for contributions from the federal Farm and Ranchlands Protection Program (FRPP), the State Farmland Preservation Program, Pilesgrove Township and the William Penn Foundation.

“We were pleased to partner in the preservation of the Musumeci Farm to ensure this land will continue to be available for agriculture and to help protect the rural character of Pilesgrove Township, for generations to come,” commented state Agriculture Secretary Douglas H. Fischer, who chairs the State Agriculture Development Committee that administers the State Farmland Preservation Program.

New Jersey Conservation Foundation and the Farm and Ranchlands Protection Program will jointly hold the easement on the property. “The Natural Resource Conservation Service recognizes the importance of sustaining productive farmland and is happy to partner with the state and township to provide lasting protection of this valuable resource,” commented Tom Drewes, state conservationist for the federal program.

New Jersey Conservation Foundation is a private, nonprofit organization whose mission is to preserve land and natural resources throughout New Jersey for the benefit of all. Since 1960, the Foundation has protected more than 120,000 acres, or 187 square miles. For more information, visit www.njconservation.org or call 1-888-LAND-SAVE (1-888-526-3728).

Here are some pictures I took on Thursday.

I decided to check out what was happening at Camp Crockett.

On my way there, I stopped by East Lake. Lucky me! All three immature Bald Eagles were perched out on the dead tree.

Here's a video I took of the eagles...

Eastern Towhee Mimicing a Carolina Wren

Someone posted this on the NJ birding mailing list.

This Eastern Towhee was recorded mimicing a Carolina Wren.

CLICK THIS LINK TO YOUTUBE

Playing Blog Catch-Up

The pictures below were taken last weekend.

Most were taken at my dad's place. I was happy to run into the female Blue Grosbeak. It's the first time I've noticed a grosbeak there. I didn't see the male.

Right near the grosbeak, I ran into (almost literally) the groundhog. He was as surprised to see me there, as I was him.

I took a little walk into the woods, following the paths made by the deer. I took some pictures so that you can see how the property owner has been clearing it out. Not good.

The hawk was seen in my neighbor's yard. I heard it before I saw it. It's hard to see in the picture, but it was holding something in its talons.