Birds & Climate Change in Our National Parks
Rocky Mountain National Park
Acadia National Park Arches National Park Badlands National Park Big Bend National Park Biscayne National Park Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Bryce Canyon National Park Canyonlands National Park Capitol Reef National Park Carlsbad Caverns National Park Channel Islands National Park Congaree National Park Crater Lake National Park Cuyahoga Valley National Park Death Valley National Park Denali National Park and Preserve Everglades National Park Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve Glacier National Park Grand Canyon National Park Grand Teton National Park Great Basin National Park Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve Great Smoky Mountains National Park Guadalupe Mountains National Park Hot Springs National Park Isle Royale National Park Joshua Tree National Park Katmai National Park and Preserve Kenai Fjords National Park Kobuk Valley National Park Lake Clark National Park and Preserve Lassen Volcanic National Park Mammoth Cave National Park Mesa Verde National Park Mount Rainier National Park North Cascades National Park Olympic National Park Petrified Forest National Park Pinnacles National Park Redwood National Park Rocky Mountain National Park Saguaro National Park Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Shenandoah National Park Theodore Roosevelt National Park Voyageurs National Park Wind Cave National Park Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve Yellowstone National Park Yosemite National Park Zion National Park
  • Size:
    414.8 sq. mi.
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Each peak in Rocky Mountain National Park is home to a unique collection of forests, which will likely be stressed by climate change. By mid-century, the park鈥檚 climate is projected to improve for birds that live in dry forests at mid-elevation, like the Western Tanager, Pygmy Nuthatch, and Red-naped Sapsucker, and worsen for birds in cooler, wetter, high-elevation forests, like the American Three-toed Woodpecker and Pine Grosbeak. It is recommended that park managers track bird populations and preserve rarer forests types where possible.
  • summer
  • winter

  • Number of Current Species i Bird species with suitable climate in park today

    0

  • Potential Colonizations i Bird species with new suitable climate in park by 2050

    0

  • Potential Extirpations i Bird species with no suitable climate in park by 2050

    0

Suitable climate for these species is currently available in the park. This list is derived from National Park Service Inventory & Monitoring data and eBird observations. Note, however, there are still imperfections in these datasets.

These are species that may find the new climate conditions of this park suitable by 2050. But projected changes in climate suitability are not definitive predictions of future species ranges or abundances. Numerous other factors affect where species occur, including habitat quality, food abundance, species adaptability, and the availability of microclimates.

Within this park, suitable climate for these birds ceases to occur by 2050. Species may either adapt to the park鈥檚 new climate or may follow suitable climate elsewhere.

Suitable climate for these species is currently available in the park. This list is derived from National Park Service Inventory & Monitoring data and eBird observations. Note, however, there are still imperfections in these datasets.

These are species that may find the new climate conditions of this park suitable by 2050. But projected changes in climate suitability are not definitive predictions of future species ranges. Numerous other factors affect where species occur, including habitat quality, food abundance, species adaptability, and the availability of microclimates.

Within this park, suitable climate for these birds ceases to occur by 2050. Species may either adapt to the park鈥檚 new climate or may follow suitable climate elsewhere.

This Park in Context

The extent of turnover, potential colonization, and potential extirpation varies among the 53 national parks featured on this website. Below, see how this park compares to others in summer and winter. Click on a circle to explore results for another park.

  • Summer
  • Winter