Editor´s choice - Montane birds are declining in northern Europe

Submitted by avianbiology on 17 January 2014.

There is cause for concern about the alpine and arctic bird species breeding in climate-sensitive mountainous regions. A collaborative analysis of data from systematic monitoring schemes covering the Fennoscandian mountains in northern Europe demonstrates that nine of fourteen alpine/arctic species have declined significantly in numbers during the recent decade characterized by higher summer temperatures and increased precipitation compared to preceding decades. Residents (like willow and rock ptarmigan) and short distance migrants (like brambling and common redpoll) showed stronger declining trends than the long-distance migrants.

Thomas Alerstam, Editor in Chief

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