Morphing birds, Willard and his colleagues say, reflect a changing climate. “It reduces the noise in the data-set,” which he said was more standardized in methodology and geology than previous studies that suggest climate change influences bird size. But that they appear in such a large sample, and one that involves diverse bird species, indicates the trends are real and widespread, he said. They determined an increase in summer temperatures is the strongest predictor for smaller birds. “Birds with longer and more pointed wings,” Winger said, “might be more efficient fliers.”ADADWillard, now retired, said he plans to continue measuring birds for as long as he can.

Source: Washington Post December 04, 2019 14:02 UTC