Espresso Knowledge #28 - Climate change threatens deep connection between people and birds in Costa Rica

Birds are integral to Costa Rica's culture but climate change threatens that deep connection.

Researchers spent four years identifying and counting birds in a Costa Rican province. Hundreds of people surveyed ranked birds on factors like song, beauty, and sense of national identity.

The study found that top-ranked birds live rainforests - Earth's most threatened ecosystem due to deforestation and global warming.

For example, if trees don't get enough water during monsoon to grow leaves, birds struggle to find food and nesting material come breeding season.

The long history between people, birds and forests leaves legacies on national and local identities. A familiar birdsong or seeing a bird fly brings back memories and strong emotions.

Rainforests may eventually dry out, which means those birds might disappear.

It's a loss for biodiversity but also for people’s history and culture.

Original article:

Stanford researcher finds that our most culturally significant birds live in habitats most at risk to environmental change

Original study:

Avian cultural services peak in tropical wet forests