Loons That Winter Near Cape May Face New Threats from Global Warming
Red-Throated Loons Losing Pond Nesting Sites in Arctic to Global Warming
(04/05/2007) - Washington, DC -- The red-throated loon population in Alaska declined by 53 percent from the 1970s to the 1990s. Current counts indicate that populations on the Atlantic coast are showing signs of a similar decrease and may fall further if current global warming trends continue according to the latest chapter of Defenders of Wildlife's global warming series "Navigating the Arctic Meltdown."Currently, about 70,000 red-throated loons winter south of Cape May, New Jersey, each year after living in the Arctic during the summer months, but fewer birds could be returning because of the toll that global warming is taking on their Arctic breeding habitat.
"The Arctic today is ground zero for global warming, so populations of some animals that spend even just a few summer months there are vulnerable to the combined effects of changing habitat and other threats," said Chris Haney, chief scientist for Defenders of Wildlife. "The red-throated loon's recent population decline in wintering areas illustrates the domino effect of global warming's impact on the Arctic."
In the long run, global warming will dry up small Arctic lakes that red-throated loons need to breed. A longer growing season and melting permafrost caused by global warming are increasing the amount of water used to support plant life, at the same time reducing the amount of water in the Arctic's shallow, small lakes and ponds. In fact, since 1950 the number of ponds in Alaska has fallen by as much as 54 percent.
"To save the red-throated loon's Arctic habitat we must act now to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases," says Haney. "In doing this we will be able to better sustain the Arctic and the unique animals and plants that use this rich landscape."
Defenders sees reducing emissions as a key to reducing effects of global warming in the future. In the meantime, measures can be taken to reduce other pressures on populations of red-throated loons. One immediate step would be to reduce bird deaths resulting from fishing gear. In Delaware Bay and the North Carolina Outer Banks red-throated loons form large congregations, and gill nets are still legally used in these areas. These nets can and do drown loons as they dive for their fish prey. Limiting use of such nets at sensitive sites would help minimize risks to loons over the next few years.
Also, these water birds are quite sensitive to human disturbances while nesting. On one Canadian island, researchers found that up to 73 percent of red-throated loon nests suffered egg predation from human disturbances which drove female loons away. Because of this sensitivity, prime summer breeding grounds in the Arctic, such as the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, should be preserved from oil and industrial development to ensure a successful breeding season.
"While it may take up to 100 years to fully reverse the harm we've already done to the Earth's climate, it is our responsibility to step up our efforts to protect wildlife that is being affected by global warming today so our children and grandchildren will be able to enjoy wildlife tomorrow," says Rodger Schlickeisen, president of Defenders of Wildlife.
The first four chapters of "Navigating the Arctic Meltdown" and subsequent installments as they become available can be found here.
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