Climate Change in America's National Parks:
Bird Conservation in a Changing Climate
Thursday, ​February 11, 2016
2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. EST

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Overview: National Audubon Society scientists recently completed a comprehensive analysis modeling the winter and summer ranges of 588 North American bird species in response to future climate change. Using citizen science data and climate layers, these models characterize the relationship between the distribution of each species and climate through the end of the century. Chad Wilsey will talk about the results and the implications for conservation. The science is clear that climate change is the biggest conservation threat to birds through the rest of the century. As a result, the fate of North America birds will depend critically on conservation decisions that reduce the impacts of climate change as well as the ability of these birds to colonize areas that become climatically suitable outside of their current ranges.

About the Speakers​​:​ ​​Chad Wilsey is currently the Director of Conservation Science at the National Audubon Society. Chad’s research interests include the use of spatial data and analysis tools, such as remote sensing and computer modeling, to address the potential impacts of development and climate-change on bird populations. At Audubon, Chad has contributed to Audubon’s climate science work as well as modeled grassland bird abundance in the greater Chicago region. Previously, Chad partnered with a team of researchers from several universities, government agencies, and non-profits to characterize the vulnerability of wildlife populations to climate change in the Pacific Northwest. He has also studied the dependence of the endangered black-capped vireo on sustained cowbird management and characterized bird communities in shaded cacao and banana agroforests in Costa Rica. In addition to expertise in spatial analysis, Chad has extensive field experience including completing wildlife surveys for the energy development projects in Wyoming, bird banding in New Mexico, and monitoring of nesting macaws in Peru. Chad earned an M.S. in Conservation Biology and Sustainable Development in the Nelson Institute at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Ph.D. in Landscape Ecology at the University of Washington.

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About the Webinar Series

This monthly climate change webinar series is presented by the NPS Climate Change Response Program. The purpose of the series is to connect NPS employees, volunteers, and partners with scientists and experts in the field of climate change research. The webinar series is a Service-wide forum where researchers can share credible, up-to-date information and research materials about the impacts of changing climate in national parks and provide participants the opportunity to engage with them in discussion.

Presentations begin at 2 PM EST, on the second Thursday of the month, and last about 90 minutes. They are viewed by logging into GoToWebinar on-line at the time of the presentation. Audio is available via a call-in number (toll charges apply) or through your computer’s speakers (free, but may be limited by connection speed).

For more information about this webinar series or to be added to the mailing list, contact .