It’s Smoky Outside. How are the birds doing?

2024 is turning out to be yet another unprecedented year for wildfire smoke in the U.S. and Canada. From the Atlantic coast to the Great Lakes to the Mississippi, from the boreal forests to the Great Plains, communities have been grappling with the worst air pollution on record. There are certain to be widespread public health impacts associated with exposure to smoke particulates and other hazardous air pollutants.

Wildfire smoke will inevitably impact birds, too – but with such limited research to date on the effects of smoke on the health and behavior of wildlife, it’s difficult to predict how birds will respond.

That’s where you come in. In my research, I use community science data and field measurements to learn more about how smoke impacts birds. My hypotheses are motivated by observations from birders. Your stories help me develop thoughtful research questions and design studies to inform avian conservation.

Have you observed any unusual bird behavior during smoke events? Are you observing the same species or different species when it’s smoky? Are birds more or less abundant? Or perhaps you’ve been surprised to observe no obvious shifts in the behavior, abundance, or diversity of birds in your neighborhood, even in the smoke.

No matter your observations, I would love to hear your story. Please share your observations of birds with me by filling out this form. You may respond to the survey in either English or Spanish.