Benefits of a Warmer Climate

[Wild-Woman]

After seeing Cordless Dave's superb shot of a Dartford Warbler in the Gallery, it got me thinking about other species of birds that will benefit from a change in the British winter. I understand that DW's suffer bad declines in harsh winters so I'm guessing that their numbers may increase or at least hold fast.
I'd like to know what the birders think will happen,what species will we see more of and what species will gain a foothold here because of climate change.
BTW-I do realise, however, that many species used to colder, wetter climes will sadly not benefit but I'm trying to think positive thoughts about the outcome in the future,not doom and gloom.

Julie

[RobSutton]

I think Little Egrets probably already have done and perhaps Cetti's Warbler too. Perhaps we also need to bear in mind that one possible senario of global warming is that we lose the influence of the North Atlantic Drift/Gulf Stream and end up with a climate similar to Nova Scotia. I'm not sure of the relative likelihood of this as a possibility or of the mechanics of it but the consequences of that could be even worse.

Closer to home we're getting a lot more butterflies up in the Dales because of recent warmer summers. Up here at Malham Tarn we had our first ever Speckled Wood last year and Comma as well and there are a number of other species which have colonised over the last 10 years or so.

[John]

As Rob has said, Little Egrets are rapidly becoming established with large colonies in a few places and also a few birds spread as far north as Scotland.

Staying with the family Cattle and Great White Egrets are becoming more and more common. Glossy Ibis are being seen and so are Black-winged Stilts. Hoopoe's seem to be visiting us more often these days (always a pleasure to see these birds).

The downside to this global warming might not be keeping us warm for too long though due to the ice melting and breaking up the gulf stream. If that happens we could be thrust into another ice age here in the UK with catastrophic results to both us and our wildlife.

John

[Wild-Woman]

Originally Posted by John

As Rob has said, Little Egrets are rapidly becoming established with large colonies in a few places and also a few birds spread as far north as Scotland.

Staying with the family Cattle and Great White Egrets are becoming more and more common. Glossy Ibis are being seen and so are Black-winged Stilts. Hoopoe's seem to be visiting us more often these days (always a pleasure to see these birds).

The downside to this global warming might not be keeping us warm for too long though due to the ice melting and breaking up the gulf stream. If that happens we could be thrust into another ice age here in the UK with catastrophic results to both us and our wildlife.

John

We have good settlements of egrets in Kent. They seem very happy amongst our local herons and rooks. I know we've had storks visit but I wondered whether they may settle down here one day.
The population of ring necked Parakeet(that I understand were originally escapees), have a stronghold, especially in the south of London and Kent. I've seen them as far out as Sevenoaks.

Oh well if we get another ice-age, we might get penguins!

[Earth Hart]

Originally Posted by John

The downside to this global warming might not be keeping us warm for too long though due to the ice melting and breaking up the gulf stream. If that happens we could be thrust into another ice age here in the UK with catastrophic results to both us and our wildlife.

John

The way most people look on Global Warming & Climate Change, I hope & pray that the Gulf Stream does fail, so they will see what a mess they're in Sadly I don't think I'll be around when the Ice Age hits us but I'll have some fun cross-country skiing before it really bites.

NASA has recently published the volume of ice loss of the Greenland Ice Shelf, 41 cubic miles per year over the last 3 years as to 17cubic miles in 1983. that's without the sea ice melt.

Bring it on

[nightshade]

This nasty warm weather is allowing disease to flourish and kill birds,insects are thin on the ground give me a return to "normal"

[aeshna5]

But what is normal? Our climate has always changed?

Dartford Warblers are responding well with birds recently colonising Suffolk + South Wales away from southern heaths- though fires in hotter, drier summers may be a problem, like the devasting one at Thursley this year. Blackcaps are now wintering here (mainly from central Europe) in increasing numbers, there have been 3 breeding attempts by Bee-eaters in recent years (sadly only 1 successful) + more southern species such as the various egrets are likely to follow.

On debit side most likely losers will be montane species such as Ptarmigan, Dotterel + Snow Bunting + with reduction in Sand Eel numbers (overfishing/water warming) many of our internationally important seabirds may decline.

Certainly many insects are responding to warmer climate with range expansion + quite a few new colonists in recent years such as Small Red-eyed Damselfly, Lesser Emperor + Sickle-bearing Cricket to name three!

[Earth Hart]

Originally Posted by nightshade

This nasty warm weather is allowing disease to flourish and kill birds,insects are thin on the ground give me a return to "normal"

Sadly, most people think this warm weather's great. Just goes to show how unaware people are of the Land.
What the land needs is a 3-4 week freeze up, to kill off the bad bugs & diseases, sure, others will suffer but the Land is crying out for it. People these days are just too soft, a bit of frost & they complain it's too cold. For me, bring on a Hard winter, I can live in hope.

[John D]

Originally Posted by nightshade

This nasty warm weather is allowing disease to flourish and kill birds,insects are thin on the ground give me a return to "normal"

Life on earth could never have been said to be 'normal'. From the very beginning there has been continual change. Some phases lasting longer than others.
John D

[Imaginos]

Originally Posted by aeshna5

Certainly many insects are responding to warmer climate with range expansion + quite a few new colonists in recent years such as Small Red-eyed Damselfly, Lesser Emperor + Sickle-bearing Cricket to name three!

We are also losing quite a few insects-especially the more northern species. Also the warm winters is having a detrimental effect on overwintering insects-especially those that overwinter as eggs as there is a lot more fungal infection in warm winters.