Report: Bird populations in decline across U.S., Mass., some species near 'tipping point'

Paula Moura | WBUR

"Bird populations are declining rapidly in the U.S., including 22 species that live in or pass through Massachusetts, according to a report released Wednesday. The U.S. State of the Birds 2022 report introduces a “tipping point list,” identifying 70 species at risk of becoming endangered. These species have already declined by at least 50% and could lose another half of their population in the next 50 years, according to researchers. [...] 'We've maybe been too complacent and just sort of take for granted that there's always going to be these beautiful birds singing out in the yard or in the park,' [said Ken Rosenberg, one of the study's authors and a retired scientist from Cornell University.] 'And it's getting to the point where that might not be true.' One of the birds reaching a tipping point is the bobolink — a small black and white bird with yellow feathers on the back of its head found in pastures in Massachusetts. Bobolinks have lost about 60% of their population since 1970 when the survey began. In the last decade alone, researchers estimate the bobolink population declined by 25%. Bobolink and other grassland birds are suffering largely due to habitat loss from housing development and use of pesticides. '[The bobolink has] just been declining so steeply that we're worried it could disappear from the northeastern states completely,' Rosenberg said. Grassland birds and shorebirds have suffered the most losses, the researchers found. Some of the affected shorebirds migrate through Massachusetts, including the Hudsonian Godwit, Ruddy Turnstone and Semipalmated sandpiper. Birds depending on forests and arid lands are also decreasing in numbers. Waterfowl, such as ducks and geese, saw an increase in population thanks to wetland conservation efforts. Individuals can help. Rosenberg said people can help protect birds by supporting conservation policies and organizations. Two big causes of bird deaths in the U.S. are glass windows and cats allowed outdoors, so a few simple changes at home could make a big difference, he added. 'It's not just the big glass, high-rise buildings in the cities that are killing birds,' he said. 'The largest number of birds are actually killed by residential windows.' Here is a list of how you can help the birds, created by the scientists at Cornell University. The university also offers a free app to help identify birds by appearance and bird call all over the world, called Merlin Bird ID." Read More

Global CO2 emissions to grow less than 1% this year thanks to renewables – IEA

Nina Chestney | Reuters

"Global carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels are expected to rise by just under 1% this year, as the expansion of renewables and electric vehicles outweighed coal demand, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said.CO2 emissions are on course to increase by nearly 300 million tonnes to 33.8 billion tonnes this year, a far smaller rise than their jump of nearly 2 billion tonnes in 2021, the agency said in a report. The rise this year has been driven by power generation and the aviation sector as air travel rebounds from pandemic lows. While that increase could have been much larger at possibly 1 billion tonnes with countries' coal demand surging as gas prices soared due to the war in Ukraine, deployment of renewable energy and EVs have kept a lid on the rise in emissions. [...] The report said solar photovoltaic and wind were leading an increase in global renewable electricity generation of more than 700 terawatt-hours (TWh), the largest annual rise on record., this year. Without this increase, global CO2 emissions would have been more than 600 million tonnes higher this year. [...] The European Union’s CO2 emissions are on course to decline this year despite higher coal emissions. The rise in European coal use is expected to be temporary, as a strong pipeline of new renewable projects is forecast to add around 50 gigawatts of capacity next year. In China, CO2 emissions are set to remain flat in 2022 due to weaker economic growth, the impact of drought on hydropower, and deployments of solar and wind." Read More

Public Workshop on Technical Potential of Solar Study: October 25, 2022, at Berkshire Community College

Department of Energy Resources

"Department of Energy Resources ("DOER") is engaging the public in providing feedback on Solar siting policy. They are interested in hearing a variety of perspectives from stakeholders in different areas of the Commonwealth. The workshop will include information on their solar siting study, solar energy, and ArcGIS mapping tools. It will also include breakout sessions so attendees can give feedback on where solar projects should be sited. [...] Date/Time: Tuesday, October 25, 2022 from 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm [...] Location: Berkshire Community College 1350 West Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201 Koussevitzky Arts Center, K111 Theater Directions and Parking. [...] Registration: While advance registration is not required to attend this event, it will help DOER ensure adequate resources to facilitate an engaging and meaningful event. Register here. Even if you can’t make it to this event, please fill out the Study’s survey on solar siting here. Please direct any questions regarding the workshops and/or study to Kerry Judge at kerry.judge1@mass.gov."

Community and Climate Risk in a New England Village

Hannah Loss | Inside Climate News

"WOODS HOLE, Mass.—When a Nor’Easter threatens this storied Cape Cod community, intrepid villagers lean into the wind. Kids hop in their dinghy boats for a quick sail before the hurricane arrives—worth it to earn bragging rights with friends, even if they never left the harbor. Woods Hole has stood the test of time for nearly 150 years as a whaling, shipping and fishing village and now, a center for oceanic research. But its greatest challenge may yet be ahead, as storm surges and flooding become more regular with climate change. Adapting to sea level rise and intense storms has already faced more than a little resistance, even in this science-savvy coastal community where many residents understand the threat posed by climate change with deep expertise. [...] maintaining the character of the village is important to residents, and is at the forefront of ResilientWoodsHole, a climate adaptation project developed with the Woods Hole community and its surrounding research institutions to assess the risks of flooding from sea level rise and storms. This resiliency plan is an extension of Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management’s Coastal Resilience Grant Program, which supports towns to start planning and implementing climate change resiliency projects. [...] The project assesses climate change vulnerabilities throughout the town, including those found in 879 residences and 28 businesses. Nearly 2,000 structures were assessed overall, the remainder belonging to the research institutions and 10 federal buildings owned by the U.S. Coast Guard. In the most recent report released in September, residents provided feedback on proposed adaptation plans. The response came in part from a 'Community Vision Workshop' hosted in February 2022, where results of the initial vulnerability assessment were presented and residents could see which areas would be most at risk from sea level rise and storm flooding. What the town and the research institutions think are the most important places to protect can be at odds, so choosing an adaptation plan requires an ongoing conversation. [...] Maintaining the historic character of the village is the first priority of the community. Villagers also support 'nature-based' solutions that use open space and enhance existing ecosystems. [...] If nature-based solutions are determined to be insufficient based on projected flooding risks, the next steps in the resiliency plan emphasize protecting and maintaining infrastructure with hybrid solutions. Those solutions could include, for example, elevating a road or adding a seawall to redirect floodwaters. Ultimately, adapting to climate change is all about timelines and how far into the future communities are willing to look." Read More