Canaries outside the coal mine: Are Connecticut’s birds being affected by smoke from Canada’s wildfires?

A hazy shot at 6:20 p.m. on June 7 from the Milford Point Osprey Cam.

News coverage
WSHU radio: Smoky conditions disrupt wildlife in Connecticut (Communications Director Tom Andersen discusses possible effects on birds.)

New Haven Register: Experts worry wildfire smoke could impact Connecticut’s wildlife (includes information from Ken Elkins, director of the Milford Point Coastal Center)

Melissa in the Morning/WICC Radio: Smoky Air Hurting Animals (interview with Tom Andersen starts at about the 8 minute, 55 second mark)

June 12 update — Last week’s smoky skies brought questions from people who said they’ve noticed fewer songbirds at feeder and fewer and hummingbirds. As of now, Connecticut Audubon doesn’t think there’s a short-term problem.

Birds tend to spend less time at feeders at this time of year anyway because they’re tending to their nests and looking for caterpillars and worms etc. to feed their young; and they’ve established their breeding territories so they’re not traveling around in small, concentrated flocks.

For hummingbirds, something similar: females are on the nest or raising young. And there are fewer hummingbirds around now than there will be in a week or so when young birds fledge, or later when migrants show up, or than there were a month ago when migrants were coming through.

June 7, 2023 — People who live in Connecticut and beyond are able to take refuge from the smoky air by staying indoors. Birds can’t do that, obviously.

So how is the smoke from the Canadian wildfires affecting birds?

It’s impossible to say for sure but one answer is: it can’t be good.

In 2020 a team of researchers at the University of Washington was concerned about the effect of smoke from wildfires on birds.

They reviewed the scientific literature and found that very little work had been done on the topic — only 41 papers in English, and of those, 23 were controlled studies rather than studies of birds in the wild. They published their results in IOPScience.

One of the authors, Kaeli Swift, Ph.D., wrote on her blog: “It’s clear that smoke isn’t good for animals, resulting in anything from carbon monoxide poisoning, to respiratory tissue damage, higher blood acid levels, stunted growth, compromised immune systems, and even death.”

She explained, “Birds have a more efficient respiratory system than any other vertebrate. While this usually offers many advantages, it also quite literally makes them the canary in the coal mine—their high sensitivity to air quality acting as an important bioindicator in addition to the obvious consequences to welfare and conservation.”

She continued, “Beyond direct health effects, exposure to smoke may also reduce reproductive success. …

“Some birds are harder to detect like bald eagles, bushtits, killdeer, osprey and marsh wrens, while cedar waxwings, western tanagers, red breasted nuthatches, and yellow warblers actually become easier to detect as particulate matter (smoke) increases.”

If you have observations to share about bird behavior during these days of heavy smoke, email them to our communications director, tandersen@ctaudubon.org.

Here are general questions and answers.

As smoke from Canada continues to cover Connecticut and reach unhealthy levels for humans, what are the concerns for Connecticut’s bird population?

Respiratory Issues: Wild birds, like other animals, can experience respiratory problems when exposed to smoke and poor air quality. Smoke particles and pollutants can irritate their lungs, leading to difficulty breathing and potentially impacting their overall health.

Reduced Visibility: Thick smoke can significantly reduce visibility, making it difficult for birds to navigate, find food, and locate their nests or roosting sites. This can disrupt their daily activities and increase the risk of collisions with objects or other birds.

What are some concerns for bird populations in the parts of Canada that are burning?

Disruption of Habitat and Food Sources: Wildfires can destroy or damage large areas of vegetation and disrupt ecosystems. This can impact the availability of food sources for birds, such as insects, seeds, or fruits. Additionally, the loss of habitat and nesting sites can force birds to relocate or compete for limited resources.

Long-Distance Displacement: Depending on the severity and extent of the wildfires, some bird species may be forced to migrate or disperse to other areas in search of suitable habitat and better air quality. This can result in changes to bird populations and distributions in the affected regions.

Is there any good news?
In the long-term, wildfires can actually benefit an ecosystem or landscape. Fires can add nutrients to the soil, remove invasive insects or disease and create new habitats that certain plant and animal species need to thrive. Some woodpecker species (e.g., Black-backed and Three-toed) thrive in burned-over areas.