Long-Term Population Trends and Spatial Redistribution of Shorebirds at a Critical Migratory Stopover

 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ece3.74183

 

‘Planetary boundaries’ necessary for flourishing of life have been massively breached, scientists warn

 https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/sep/21/planetary-boundaries-breached-scientists-warn-climate-crisis

 New report shows key indicators of Earth’s health are ‘outside the safe operating space’ as climate disaster looms.

 

The planetary life support systems relied upon by humans have deteriorated to their worst levels ever recorded amid ongoing pollution and habitat destruction, according to a key yet grim annual update by scientists.

Of the nine “planetary boundaries” that help determine whether life can flourish on Earth, seven are being breached at their highest ever levels of transgression, according to the latest planetary health check, a process that was established in 2009.

New Film Series Shows How Seabirds Can Reveal Changes in Arctic Ecosystems

 https://en.highnorthnews.com/science/new-film-series-shows-how-seabirds-can-reveal-changes-in-arctic-ecosystems/1116540

 https://youtu.be/bWYrZlgs07Y?si=TNAtl-eNT-NdF9tu

 

 

From field to lab, facilitating non-invasive genetic survey. Lessons from an arctic bird living at the edge, the rock ptarmigan in the French Alps

 https://nsojournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/wlb3.01687

 

 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41559-026-03117-y

 

• Article
• Open access
• Published: 05 August 2026

Extensive climate-induced range shifts in butterflies across the globe

• Shawan Chowdhury,
• Upama Aich,
• Laura H. Antão,
• Stefan Pinkert,
• Perpetra Akite,
• Gilberto S. S. Almeida,
• Tatsuya Amano,
• Andras Ambrus,
• Jade A. T. Badon,
• Seung-Yun Baek,
• Maksims Balalaikins,
• Michal Barták,
• Vijay Barve,
• Michał Bełcik,
• Timothy C. Bonebrake,
• Simona Bonelli,
• Diana E. Bowler,
• Michael F. Braby,
• Roger Caritg,
• Sei-Woong Choi,
• Wen-Chen Chu,
• Eloisa Clain,
• Steve Collins,
• Johnattan H. Cumplido,
• …
• Jonathan Lenoir 

Nature Ecology & Evolution (2026) Cite this article

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Abstract

Global changes are leading to widespread species redistribution. Comprehensive assessments of range shift dynamics and their drivers are difficult, partly due to the variation in range shift detection over space and taxa. Here we compile documented range shift records for 1,758 butterfly species from 105 countries and territories, representing ~10% of the known diversity of these insects. Most species (80%) experienced range expansions, and most range shifts (79%) were associated with climate change and extreme weather events. A substantial proportion of species in our dataset contracted their ranges (27%) or shifted along elevational gradients (22%). We report widespread horizontal range expansions and contractions across tropical countries, with less evidence for elevational range shifts. We show that a clearer picture of range shift dynamics emerged only through the combination of different types of data, with expert assessments and non-English studies alleviating potential biases. Our findings of climate-driven range shifts call for concerted efforts to improve inclusive data monitoring and conservation efforts, especially for tropical countries, where human-induced land-use changes exert additional critical pressure.

new WBCP Issues Paper

 The Status of Midwest Aerial Insectivores is #9 in the set of

Issues Papers

 http://www.wisconsinbirds.org/issues-papers/

*NOTE: In January 2020, the name of our partnership was changed from the Wisconsin Bird Conservation Initiative (WBCI) to the Wisconsin Bird Conservation Partnership (WBCP).

Members of the Issues Committee of the Wisconsin Bird Conservation Partnership have prepared a series of “Issues Papers” to provide information for WBCP partners and the public. These documents contain an overview of of the topics and sections covering WBCP Goals, Research Findings in Wisconsin and Elsewhere, Recommended Actions, Additional Research Needs, Links, and Additional Literature.

All of the following are printable PDF files:

• The Status of Midwest Aerial Insectivores

• Effects of Pesticides on Birds

• Climate Change and Birds

• Effects of Deer Herbivory on Birds

• Wind Power and Birds: WBCI Policy and Guidelines

• Window Collisions and Birds

• Ethical Standards in Birding: Protecting Endangered, Threatened, and Rare Species

• Effects of Free-ranging Cats on Birds in Wisconsin

• Lead Poisoning of Wisconsin’s Birds

presentation Wed night July 8th, @ 7pm

 

One of the "scientists' warnings" papers (The 2025 state of the climate report: a planet on the brink )

 This is another one of the "scientists' warnings" papers (The 2025 state of the climate report: a planet on the brink ).

 https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/article/75/12/1016/8303627

From the abstract:

" We are hurtling toward climate chaos. The planet's vital signs are flashing red. The consequences of human-driven alterations of the climate are no longer future threats but are here now. This unfolding emergency stems from failed foresight, political inaction, unsustainable economic systems, and misinformation. Almost every corner of the biosphere is reeling from intensifying heat, storms, floods, droughts, or fires. The window to prevent the worst outcomes is rapidly closing. In early 2025, the World Meteorological Organization reported that 2024 was the hottest year on record (WMO 2025a). This was likely hotter than the peak of the last interglacial, roughly 125,000 years ago (Gulev et al. 2021, Kaufman and McKay 2022). Rising levels of greenhouse gases remain the driving force behind this escalation. These recent developments emphasize the extreme insufficiency of global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mark the beginning of a grim new chapter for life on Earth."

 

a week in Gr Smoky Mts NP

 

My family spent a week hiking in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. 

 

 

Along with my search for birds, we all were in awe of many "old-growth" trees in the forests of the park. One particularly-noteworthy area was the Cosby Creek trail, with many small streams, and many large trees,

 At high elevations in the national park, Dark-eyed Juncos, Common Ravens, and Black-capped Chickadees are found (in the range where Carolina Chickadees are espected, but at lower elevations).

 

These Bluets were seen there: 

 

Here, along the Oconaluftee River, we saw 3 elk. 

 

 

Because I live in southeastern WI, many songbirds encountered in GSMNP are very uncommon to slightly "rare" where I live:

Blue Grosbeak

Summer Tanager

Worm-eating Warbler 

Black Vulture,

and most uncommon of all,

Swainson's Warbler. 

 

 

 

Biodiversity resilience in a tropical rainforest

 

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-026-10365-2

Abstract

The UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration aims to stop biodiversity losses¹. Approximately 60% of tropical forests have already been lost or severely degraded², making restoration essential to achieve conservation goals. Recovery trajectories of trees have been studied intensively^3,4, but a comprehensive understanding of biodiversity recovery is lacking. Here we analyse recovery trajectories across trophic levels including 16 taxonomic groups from three kingdoms in a lowland tropical forest by investigating resistance to perturbation, recovery times and return rates to old-growth forest conditions. Abundance and diversity regained more than 90% and composition approximately 75% similarity to old-growth forests within 30 years, but full recovery takes several decades. Mobile animal communities acting as seed dispersers or pollinators had high resistance levels and recovered faster than trees or tree seedlings. Return rates contributed 1–2.5 times more than resistance to the recovery times of species composition. Taxon-specific recovery times could not be explained by simple mechanisms (life-history strategies, trophic level or mobility). We show the enormous potential of protecting naturally recovering secondary forests to stop and reverse biodiversity losses.

New Frontiers in Avian Physiology: What’s Migration got to do with it?

 A new special issue in the Journal of Avian Biology: 

https://nsojournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/toc/10.1111/(ISSN)1600-048X.new-frontiers-avian-physiology

Effects of Migration Distance on Shifting Migratory and Breeding Phenology in Waders

 

See: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ece3.73080?prg140729=edddcac6-4255-45a8-89a9-f4f1223b0642

scientists' warning: Journal Articles Related to Scientists' Warning

 Read the collected papers related to global scientists' warning:😊https://scientistswarning.forestry.oregonstate.edu/journal-articles-related-scientists-warning

"The Alliance of World Scientists (AWS) provides the collective international voice of thousands of scientists regarding the global climate crisis and environmental trends with the intent to turn accumulated knowledge into action." 

Follow me on Bluesky!

 A year+ ago, I left Facebook for good. (No need to go into the reasons why.)

To see my daily writings and posting, go to BlueSky and find me at  @wpmueller.bsky.social.

I have found a worldwide ornithological and environmental community there. 

Intrinsic and Extrinsic Factors Simultaneously Modulated the Use of Roadways by Golden Eagles During Winter

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ece3.71955

Researchers define the importance of the ‘circular seabird economy’

 "In a review article published in Nature, researchers have introduced a new term to describe the importance of seabirds across land and marine ecosystems: the circular seabird economy."

See the article at:

https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2025/11/researchers-define-the-importance-of-the-circular-seabird-economy/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

New information on Bar-tailed Godwits

 New information has changed what we thought we knew about Bar-tailed Godwit migration:

Rethinking Bar-tailed Godwits

https://wadertales.wordpress.com/2025/10/18/rethinking-bar-tailed-godwits/

CONSERVATION INVESTMENT STRATEGY FOR THE BIRDS OF THE CARIBBEAN SLOPE OF MEXICO, CENTRAL AMERICA AND COLOMBIA

 

 

Read this document: 

  https://www.birdlife.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Conservation-Investment-Strategy-for-the-Birds-of-the-Caribbean-Slope-of-Mexico-Central-America-and-Colombia-2025-English.pdf

Threat reduction must be coupled with targeted recovery programmes to conserve global bird diversity

 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41559-025-02746-z

 

Look for the enhanced network of ornithologists posting on Bluesky

 Many scientific colleagues have joined Bluesky (and left X and Facebook) over the past year. Look for posts with the #ornithology tag. It's an amazing - and growing - online community.