The Thick-billed Longspur is a bird of the grasslands that can be found in Saskatchewan’s southwest corner. Outside of climate impacts, this bird’s population has suffered due to agriculture-related habitat loss, pesticide use, and other human impacts.

The Thick-billed Longspur is one of Saskatchewan’s most at-risk birds. According to Audubon’s Survival by Degrees study, this species is estimated to lose 98% of its current summer range in the not-too-distant future as average global temperatures rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. Climate experts believe we will reach 1.5°C as soon as the early 2030s, and projections suggest that the Thick-billed Longspur will only gain 1% in new areas within this time. If we allow global heating to progress at this rate, this species could lose 100% of its current summer range before 2050 (2°C).

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Want to help? Visit the United Nations website for a list of actions that you can take!

Photograph courtesy of Nick Saunders

This project is supported by SK Arts