How does wildfire smoke affect birds? This researcher is looking to find out

A researcher at the University of Suskechewan wants to know how birds, especially lyricists, are being influenced by forest fire and smoke.

Catherine Ivy, a bird lover and assistant professor at the University of Suskechewan College of Arts and Science, is leading the project.

Ivy said, “I have always been interested in how birds are able to operate their long migrant flights, and were interested in how animals change their breath to deal with the challenging environment.”

Canada’s 2023 wildfire season Was worst on record In terms of burnt area. The second is the worst since the 2024 season 1995.

Ivy said that there is evidence of anecdotes that birds are being affected by wildfire smoke, but the effects have never been researched.

A forest fire will not have any adverse effect on birds, but may occur frequently and frequent exposure.

Ivy said that there has been extensive research on humans and laboratory animals.

“We know from Health Canada and other health funding bodies are not good for us (humans) to be out in smoke,” he said.

“But one thing is that research is the disregard of this time what happens with wildlife.”

Ivy said that this is important because it can help us become more aware than why the population of the bird is decreasing. He said that we already know that changes in migrant routes, such as buildings where they did not, have had an impact.

“But we don’t know if the smoke of the forest fire also connects him,” he said. “If the smoke of the wildfire affects their lungs and affects their ability to migrate, it means that they can get stuck in an environment that do not have enough resources for them during their south -east stay.”

He said that research will track migratory birds that cover long distances, and compare birds that are exposed to wildfire smoke, which do not.

“Health Canada asks us to stay inside, only breathe in clean air,” she said. “But these animals live outside throughout the year. So unfortunately there is this difference in our knowledge.”

The project received funds from the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) Discovery Grant Program.