Climate change has conducted some migratory species to alter their usual plans, upsetting the balance of the ecosystems in which they nest. A study published last year found eagles left their wintering grounds earlier as rising temperatures prompted a quicker migration. Data collected by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration over the previous quarter century revealed the cumulative difference was about two weeks.
The problems arise when taking into account the patterns of other species and plant life in their summer habitats. When eagles arrive before their food sources, they may starve, shrinking their population. However, that same study also tracked caribou and found the shift in mating season occurred more smoothly.
As climate change takes its toll on the migration of various species, some will change drastically while others may adjust with subtle corrections. The overall impact, however, carries an as yet unknown consequence on the global ecosystem.