Climate change forces birds to new heights

Species 'climbing' chilly mountains as temperatures rise

- BY STEPHEN BEECH

OVERHEATED birds are moving higher up mountains due to climate change, according to researchers.

Many species have migrated towards colder areas in mountain ranges across Europe as temperatures have steadily risen over the past two decades.

Sunny southern slopes attract birds to live at higher elevations than shadier northern slopes, according to a study published in the journal Global Ecology and Biogeography. But the actual rate of “climb” is the same.