A study at the University of Saskatchewan is exploring the impact of wildfires and smoke on birds, particularly songbirds. Catherine Ivy, an assistant professor and bird enthusiast at the university’s college of arts and science, is spearheading the research project.
The 2023 wildfire season in Canada set a record for the largest area burned, and the 2024 season ranked as the second-worst since 1995. While there is anecdotal evidence suggesting that birds are affected by wildfire smoke, no formal research has been conducted on this subject.
According to Ivy, individual wildfires may not harm birds significantly, but repeated exposure to wildfires and smoke could have adverse effects. She emphasized the importance of understanding how these environmental factors impact bird populations, especially in light of existing challenges like altered migratory routes due to human developments.
The study aims to observe migratory birds that cover long distances and compare the effects of wildfire smoke on birds exposed to it versus those that are not. Ivy highlighted the gap in knowledge regarding wildlife exposure to smoke, given that animals live outdoors year-round while humans are advised to stay indoors during poor air quality conditions.
Funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) discovery grant program, this research seeks to shed light on the potential repercussions of wildfire smoke on bird health and migration patterns.