Canadian wildfire smoke linked to fewer sightings of 40 bird species in New York

A new University at Buffalo study has found that smoke from Canadian wildfires may have made many bird species harder to spot in New York State during the 2021–2023 breeding seasons. Researchers linked higher levels of wildfire-related PM2.5 air pollution with fewer sightings of 40 bird species. They say the birds may have changed their behaviour rather than disappeared, highlighting the need to consider air quality when monitoring wildlife.