Conservation efforts could more effectively identify bird species at greatest risk from climate change by better understanding the range of conditions they need to thrive, says a new UEA-led study.🐦🌦️

Read more: www.uea.ac.uk/about/news/a...

#UEAResearch #Birddeclines #ClimateChange

With global warming, temperatures exceeding thresholds suitable for activity will occur more frequently, affecting foraging. Access to refugia may become increasingly important for shielding individuals from extreme temperatures, especially during the warmest periods of the day. 5/5

Kestrel activity levels were lower while use of patches with trees increased with temperature. Temperature thresholds above which activity declines varied with time of day, and at higher temperatures, usage of trees was more frequent between 11am and 4pm. 4/5

We use GPS tracking data of 48 kestrels to explore individual activity patterns in response to temperature. We characterise their habitat and investigate if use of patches with trees increases with temperature, as these are likely to be the main features providing refugia. 3/5

In southern Portugal and Spain, bird populations are exposed to particularly high temperatures during breeding and summer, and there are very few features across the landscape that could be suitable as refugia to shield them from the heat. So how do kestrels cope with high temperatures? 2/5

Global warming is leading to more frequent periods of extremely high temperatures. Understanding individual behavioural responses across temperature gradients can help identify and design measures that enable species to cope with extremes temperatures, aiding their conservation.
1/5 #BOU2025

The CEEC Rebellion Conference is back from hibernation!

Join us on the 7th & 8th March for an exciting student-led conference showcasing research from staff and students at UEA in ZICER 0.02 or follow along here on Bluesky

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