Oles in the News: MPR features birding and climate change expert
In the Climate Cast episode “Warmer winters add challenges for migrating birds,” Visiting Instructor of Biology Lynn Schofield from St. Olaf’s Biology Department discussed how climate change is disrupting the delicate patterns of bird migration.
Speaking with MPR’s meteorologist Paul Huttner, Schofield explained that warmer winters are altering the timing and success of migration cycles across Minnesota and beyond. She introduced the concept of migratory connectivity—the idea that each stage of a bird’s annual journey, from breeding to wintering grounds, is ecologically linked. Warmer temperatures, for example, can shift food availability or delay seasonal cues, causing birds to arrive too early or too late to find the resources they depend on. Schofield noted that these disruptions affect the whole environment, and are not isolated to just a select few species.
Schofield’s research underscores how even small temperature changes can have large biological consequences, particularly for species adapted to predictable seasonal rhythms. Through her expertise, the episode highlights the importance of monitoring long-term migration data and supporting habitat conservation efforts that help birds adapt to a changing climate. Listen to the full interview on the MPR’s website.