CBS: Cutting Greenhouse Emissions Needed to Save Birds from Global Warming

On Tuesday’s CBS Evening News, correspondent John Blackstone presented the view that cutting greenhouse gas emissions is necessary to save birds from global warming, as the report related that migration patterns have changed as a result of rising temperatures. Blackstone vaguely relayed that Audubon scientists somehow "found" that "reducing greenhouse gas emissions" could be beneficial to birds: "Here in California, Audubon scientists went beyond measuring bird movement to look for solutions. They found that reducing the greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming could make a dramatic difference for many birds."

Katie Couric introduced the piece: "Meanwhile, global warming has a new warning sign. Instead of heading South, many birds are going North for the winter. A report released today only proves what birders already know: Many species are responding to climate change."

After relaying evidence that birds are not migrating as far South during the winter as they used to, Blackstone played a soundbite of Greg Butcher of the National Audubon Society: "It's a very strong indication that global warming is not something that's remote. It's something that's been with us for the last 40 years."

Blackstone then plugged efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions:

JOHN BLACKSTONE: Here in California, Audubon scientists went beyond measuring bird movement to look for solutions. They found that reducing the greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming could make a dramatic difference for many birds.

WILLIAM MONAHAN, AUDUBON CALIFORNIA: California can really lead the way in this. But ultimately it's going to have to be a global solution that we're looking at.

Blackstone concluded his report intoning: "While birds are moving to adapt to global warming, Audubon scientists say climate change may be coming too quickly for some to survive."

Below is a complete transcript of the report from the Tuesday, February 10, CBS Evening News:

KATIE COURIC: Meanwhile, global warming has a new warning sign. Instead of heading South, many birds are going North for the winter. A report released today only proves what birders already know: Many species are responding to climate change. Here's John Blackstone.

JOHN BLACKSTONE: Near San Francisco, this was a perfect day for bird watching.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE BIRD WATCHER: Oh, yeah, Bewick’s wrens are really, really singing, and they are confusing for most people.

BLACKSTONE: In fact, for bird watchers, something confusing has been going on for years. Bird species have increasingly been showing up where they don't seem to belong. Now scientists with the Audubon Society have taken four decades of bird sighting records and found that some species, like the house finch and Stellar's jay, have moved their winter homes hundreds of miles North. In those same four decades, the average January temperature in the U.S. has risen by almost five degrees. As the temperatures have gone up, the birds have gone North. Since the 1960s, some species have changed their winter destination by more than 400 miles. Of 305 species studied, more than half had moved North an average of 35 miles.

GREG BUTCHER, NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY: It's a very strong indication that global warming is not something that's remote. It's something that's been with us for the last 40 years.

BLACKSTONE: Here in California, Audubon scientists went beyond measuring bird movement to look for solutions. They found that reducing the greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming could make a dramatic difference for many birds.

WILLIAM MONAHAN, AUDUBON CALIFORNIA: California can really lead the way in this. But ultimately it's going to have to be a global solution that we're looking at.

BLACKSTONE: While birds are moving to adapt to global warming, Audubon scientists say climate change may be coming too quickly for some to survive. John Blackstone, CBS News, Emeryville, California.