Shorebirds, the World’s Greatest Travelers, Face ExtinctionDr. Fitzpatrick is director of the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology. Worldwide, about 70 shorebird species travel from the top of the world to its very bottom and back each year. The collective populations of 19 North American migratory shorebird species have fallen by more than 50 percent over the past 40 years. Nests hatched per day, 2009 Peak insect period ... but in warmer years, nests hatched closer to the end When this happens, there is not enough food for hatchlings. Nests hatched per day, 2010 3 Peak insect period 2 1 0 Nests hatched per day, 2011 2 Peak insect period 1 0 12 19 26 Aug. 2 9 Note: Peak insection period based on the highest average insect abundance.

Source: New York Times April 27, 2018 18:54 UTC