Migration- Birds and Blooms

Climate change is shifting the rhythms of life across the planet. Rising temperatures, altered rainfall patterns, and extreme weather are changing when and where species move. For migratory birds and pollinators, these changes can be life-altering—and sometimes life-threatening.

Birds rely on seasonal cues to begin their long journeys across continents. But as spring arrives earlier in some regions and food sources bloom out of sync, many birds are arriving too late to feed or nest. Some are changing their routes or skipping migrations altogether, disrupting ecosystems that depend on them.

Pollinators—like bees, butterflies, and even hummingbirds—are also on the move. As their habitats shift with the climate, they may leave behind the plants they once pollinated, breaking ancient relationships that sustain biodiversity and agriculture. Crops and wild plants alike could suffer.

This panel explores the delicate timing and interconnectedness of migration and pollination in a changing climate—and what it means for ecosystems, food security, and the future of life on Earth.

Panelists:
Liba Pejchar, Professor, Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology
John Mola, Assistant Professor, Forest and Rangeland Stewardship
Kristen Ruegg, Assistant Professor, Biology

Moderated by:

Dale Lockwood, Assistant Professor, Departments of Biology and School of Global Environmental Sustainability