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Vulnerable Birds in Flathead County
Highly and moderately vulnerable birds may lose more than half of their current range—the geographic area where they live—as they are forced to search for suitable habitat and climate conditions elsewhere.
Below, find out which of the birds that nest or spend the winter in your area are most vulnerable across their entire range. Some birds may lose range outside of your state, making the protection of their current habitat in your area even more important.
How Will the Yellow Warbler's Range Be Affected in Flathead County?
Rising temperatures and shifting weather patterns affect birds’ ability to find food and reproduce, which over time impacts local populations, and ultimately continent-wide populations, too. Some species may even go extinct in your state if they cannot find the resources they need to survive and raise their young.
Select a warming scenario to see how this species’ range will change under increased global temperatures.
Reducing warming makes many types of birds found in Flathead County less vulnerable.
Without immediate, urgent action to reduce carbon emissions, global temperatures could rise by 3.0°C in the coming decades, endangering birds in your area. The threat is drastically reduced if we curb greenhouse gases and we limit warming to 1.5°C, giving the same birds a chance to not only survive but thrive.
Click the three different warming scenarios to explore how increased warming puts more species in Flathead county at risk.
Montana's Birds and Habitats
The alpine tundra, glaciers, and peaks of Glacier National Park support more than 275 bird species, including Canada Jays, American Dippers, and Harlequin Ducks. The prairie potholes of Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge attract grassland and wetland birds, including great flocks of geese and ducks as well as Greater Sage-Grouse, Chestnut-collared Longspurs, and Baird’s Sparrows. Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge, set in the Bitterroot Valley, is known for its bird diversity including Trumpeter Swans, Sandhill Cranes, and Bobolinks.
Climate Policy in Montana
RENEWABLE
.1 % Biomass
38.8 % Hydro
FOSSIL FUEL
49.1 % Coal
1.6 % Petroleum
OTHER
BY 2015
Climate Alliance?
(Data: U.S. EIA)
Montana’s landscape is the fifth-best wind resource in the nation but ranks only 22nd in installed capacity. The state government offers several clean energy tax incentives and loan programs for individuals and businesses to promote renewable energy development. Several cities have adopted climate action plans, including Whitefish, Bozeman, and Missoula.
Climate Threats Facing Birds and People in Flathead County
Montana’s snowpack levels have diminished throughout the state, and in time will lead to decreased surface water supplies, a shorter winter recreation season, and changes in alpine ecosystems. Temperatures have increased 2 degrees Fahrenheit over the last century and droughts have become more severe; in the coming decades, these factors could reduce crop yields and exacerbate wildfires.
The same climate change-driven threats that put birds at risk harm people, too. Hover over or tap an area on the map to see specific threats that will affect that area as warming increases.