Temperatures in the North are rising at an alarming rate – about three times faster than the global average.
This rapid warming is changing the landscape of the Arctic and deeply impacting the creatures that call it home. So what does a warmer Arctic mean for our feathered friends? The good news is that some of them are adapting. However, many other Arctic birds are struggling.
Meet the Birds That are Rolling With the Changes
Warmer weather? That’s no big deal for some of Arctic’s birds! Take the Least Auklet, for instance. This sparrow-sized bird is welcoming the warmer weather with open wings – because their tummies have never been fuller. Due to a warming climate, zooplankton populations are booming, offering a steady flow of the Least Auklet’s favourite prey to nosh on.
Then there are the Arctic Geese, like the Lesser Snow Goose and Greater White-fronted Goose, which are also benefiting from a warmer climate. With less snow around in the spring, they’re getting an early start on nesting season. More time to raise chicks? Check. More plants growing earlier for food? Double check. These adaptable birds are thriving…at least for now.
The Birds Facing Real Challenges
Unfortunately, not all Arctic birds are coping so well. Many species are struggling with reduced sea ice, changes in prey availability and even an increased threat from predators like the Polar Bear.
Reduced Sea Ice Cover
Ivory Gulls have suffered a shocking 80 to 90 per cent population decline over the past two decades. The shrinking sea ice is largely to blame. These gulls rely on the frozen landscape to hunt fish and invertebrates that live in the waters between the ice floes. But that’s not the whole story – they’ve got an unusual relationship with Polar Bears. After a Polar Bear has eaten its fill of a seal carcass, Ivory Gulls bring up the rear and peck away at the rest. With less ice, however, these opportunities are becoming scarce, forcing the gulls to travel farther for food. The result? Exhausted birds with little energy left for breeding.
Similarly, the Black Guillemot hunts for Polar Cod at the ice edge, but as the ice retreats, they’re forced to fly farther to find a bite to eat. And all that energy needed to find food is depleting their ability to reproduce effectively. Additionally, with a lack of sea ice, the Arctic coastlines are at a greater risk of erosion due to rising sea levels. And that can negatively impact the nesting habitat of birds like the Glaucous Gull.
Prey on the Move
The warming waters of the Arctic are also shifting important prey species like Capelin and Arctic Cod out of the range of seabirds like the Thick-billed Murre. These birds rely on larger, energy-packed fish, but as these species move north in search of cooler waters, they’re left with smaller, less nutritious options. That’s greatly affecting their health and even their breeding success is declining. The Black Guillemot is in a similar boat, it’s forced to swap its preferred Polar Cod for less nourishing sculpins.
Polar Bears Expanding Their Menu
With less ice to hunt seals, Polar Bears are spending more time on land, where they’ve developed a taste for birds. Although seals are their number one pick, they won’t hesitate to gobble up a Glaucous Gull or Thick-billed Murre when they get the chance. These massive predators are even raiding seabird nests, further reducing the chances of successful breeding for these already stressed species. We can’t forget Polar Bears are a stressed species too. Prey like seabirds are small and that means they have to hunt a lot more to get enough calories in. If they don’t eat enough, they won’t build enough fat reserves to survive.
April Overall
April is the Editor of Wildlife Update, CWF’s e-newsletter and WILD magazine, the Canadian Wildlife Federation's children’s publication. When she’s not writing for CWF, you’ll probably find her playing with her daughter Nora.
