Birds are back in Minnesota early. Can they weather spring storms, climate change?
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Minnesotans may have heard the call of a red-winged blackbird or sandhill crane in recent days — earlier than usual.
Climate change is pushing some birds to migrate earlier. Sharon Stiteler, birder and author known as "Birdchick," joined Cathy Wurzer on Morning Edition to explain why and which species can handle spring storms.
Listen to the conversation by clicking the player button above.
“They're taking a gamble. The males want to get back, and especially the Red-winged blackbirds, they want to get the best territory possible,” Stiteler said. “By getting here early and singing, they're establishing that, ‘hey, I'm a pretty strong guy, I can get this territory, and if it snows a little bit, that's okay. I'm staking out the best that I can get for ladies when they arrive.’”
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Stiteler said sandhill cranes and some waterfowl returning now can also take some snow. The real gamble is egg-laying. A Tax Day blizzard would kill any eggs fertilized now. But if wintry conditions stay at bay, arriving earlier could translate into an extra clutch of eggs this season.
The concern is for insect-eating birds, like warblers and tanagers, that begin arriving in Minnesota in early May. If insects hatch earlier due to warmer temperatures, food supplies may be scarce by the time the birds arrive, Stiteler said.
“That's one of the reasons why it's super important that we try to plant as many native plant species as we can, because the more that's out there that can attract other types of insects, that can have other sorts of food that's available for these birds when they get back,” she said.
Humans can help by putting out bird seed and making sure feeders are free of mold, which can pop up thanks to melting.
“If we get a lot of rain, go out and look at your feeders. If the seed looks clumped up, clean that out, because that could cause an infection at the bird feeder,” Stiteler said.
