Global warming is causing our temperatures and ocean levels to rise rapidly (Carey 3321). This behavior has become a threat to our biodiversity. Biodiversity is defined as the basis of all life on planet Earth. The term biodiversity has become a popular topic today because people are beginning to understand the importance of biodiversity. Additionally, rapid climate change puts species at risk of extinction, as they cannot adapt to such rapid changes in a short period of time. Biodiversity is a broad topic, so in this article I will focus on the effects of climate change on migratory birds, with an emphasis on how climate change affects bird migration and their habitats. reproduction. The Earth's temperature is increasing rapidly and due to rapidly changing climate change, birds have changed their migration pattern. Some birds delayed their departure and others arrived earlier or later at their final destination (Carey 3325). Climate change particularly affects birds in Europe. The Pied Flycatcher is a long-distance migratory bird that lives in South Africa during the winter and migrates to Europe to find a breeding site (Coppack & Both 371). Climate change has altered the timing of migration of these birds. If they arrive at their breeding ground too early, they risk starving to death. On the other hand, if they arrive too late, their chances of finding a partner to reproduce with are slim (371). In fact, about 30 Central European bird species delayed their departure time in the fall, and in the spring they arrived earlier than their normal arrival time (Carey 3326). When extreme weather conditions occur, birds tend to migrate to a more comfortable location (Coppack and Both 369) because birds are very sensitive...... middle of paper ...... Visser. “Climate change and population decline in a long-distance migratory bird.” Nature 441.7089 (2006): 81-83. Science Web. Internet. April 26, 2011. Carey, Cynthia. “The impacts of climate change on the annual cycles of birds”. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 364.1534 (2009): 3321-330. Science Web. Internet. April 26, 2011. Coppack, Timothy and Christiaan Both. “Predicting life cycle adaptation of migratory birds to global climate change.” Ardea ns 90.3 (2003): 369-78. Print.DePalma, Anthony. “A growing number of birds at risk.” The New York Times December 1, 2007, final edition, section B sec. : 2. LexisNexis Academic. Internet. April 26, 2011. Wisby, Gary. "Half of Chicago's migratory birds could disappear; many are heading north as the globe warms." Chicago Sun-Times December 16, 2004, NEWS section: 20. LexisNexis Academic. Internet. April 26. 2011.