Survival by Degrees: 389 Bird Species on the Brink

Vulnerable Birds in St Joseph 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.

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How Will the Willow Flycatcher's Range Be Affected in St Joseph 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 St Joseph 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 St Joseph county at risk.

Indiana's Birds and Habitats

The restored wetlands of Goose Pond Fish and Wildlife Area are year-round hotspots for waterfowl and marsh birds. Grasslands at the Kankakee Sands complex in northwestern Indiana support one of the state’s largest populations of Henslow’s Sparrows. Lake Michigan’s shores provide great opportunities for viewing migrating shorebirds, waterbirds, and songbirds in spring and fall. Hoosier National Forest is a haven for neotropical migrants and nesting songbirds, including significant populations of Wood Thrushes and Red-headed Woodpeckers.


Climate Policy in Indiana

Electricity Generation Breakdown
6.2%
RENEWABLE
5.1 % Wind
.5 % Biomass
.3 % Hydro
.3 % Solar
91.4%
FOSSIL FUEL
18.2 % Natural Gas
73.2 % Coal
2.3%
OTHER
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Targets
None
Renewable Portfolio Standard
10%
BY 2025
Member of the US
Climate Alliance?
Yes

(Data: U.S. EIA)

One of Indiana’s largest gas and electric companies aims to replace coal plants with cheaper renewables and energy storage by 2028. In 2018, clean energy employment grew 4.7 percent, one of the fastest growth rates in the region.

Climate Threats Facing Birds and People in St Joseph County

Heavy precipitation and flooding along the Ohio River threaten navigation and waterfront communities. Increasing temperatures in Lake Michigan have reduced ice cover and degraded water quality, causing algal blooms that harm fish populations. In the coming decades, Indiana will likely experience rapid and uncertain Great Lakes water-level fluctuations, reduced agricultural yields, and heat waves.


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.