Record Arctic temperatures are affecting around 200 bird species

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Arctic Report Card, surface air temperatures in the region reached their highest level since 1900 during the October 2024–September 2025 period. Around 200 bird species are found in the Arctic throughout the year, and changing conditions are affecting their feeding, migration and breeding behavior.

NOAA says record Arctic temperatures are affecting birds

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Arctic Report Card found that surface air temperatures in the region reached their highest level since 1900 during the October 2024–September 2025 period. All of the past 10 years have also ranked among the warmest years on record for the region.

Since 2006, the region’s average annual temperature has risen at twice the rate of the global average. Rapid climate change has made its effects on the habitats and behavior of Arctic wildlife increasingly visible.

The Arctic is home to around 200 bird species

According to data from the Arctic Council’s Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna Working Group, around 200 bird species are found in the Arctic throughout the year. This accounts for approximately 2 percent of bird species worldwide.

Waterfowl, shorebirds and seabirds are prominent among the region’s birdlife. The number and diversity of songbirds are lower, while most species remain in the Arctic only for short periods. Nevertheless, the region provides an important habitat, particularly during the breeding season.

Seabirds reflect changes in the ecosystem

During the 6th National Arctic Scientific Research Expedition, conducted by TÜBİTAK’s Polar Research Institute in July, Alkefjellet was observed. The site consists of steep basalt cliffs inhabited by hundreds of thousands of seabirds. Puffins, among the Arctic’s emblematic species, were also studied in their natural habitat.

Dr. Atilla Yılmaz, a senior principal researcher at TÜBİTAK’s Polar Research Institute who took part in the expedition, said seabirds are among the groups of organisms that show the effects of climate change on the ecosystem most rapidly.

Yılmaz said changes in seawater temperatures, sea ice and food sources directly affect birds’ feeding, migration and breeding behavior. He said recording bird species and their distributions during expeditions is important for scientific research.

Bird colonies are protected in Svalbard

Birds and nesting areas in the Svalbard archipelago are strictly protected under the Svalbard Environmental Protection Act. Yılmaz said significant restrictions are in place in the region, particularly to prevent disturbances to bird colonies.

The emergence of highly pathogenic avian influenza in the Arctic in recent years has increased the importance of observations. The large bird colonies and puffins at Alkefjellet both demonstrate the region’s natural wealth and provide indicators of the condition of the rapidly changing Arctic ecosystem.

Expeditions follow environmental protection rules

Prof. Dr. Burcu Özsoy, director of TÜBİTAK’s Polar Research Institute and coordinator of the 6th National Arctic Scientific Research Expedition, said the Arctic is one of the regions where the effects of climate change can be observed most rapidly.

Özsoy said the expeditions assess different components, including the atmosphere, seas, glaciers and wildlife, together, while also seeking to establish long-term scientific records. She emphasized that conducting the research without harming the Arctic’s fragile ecosystem and in accordance with Svalbard’s strict environmental protection rules is important both for producing scientific knowledge and for protecting the region.

The images obtained during the expedition are expected to contribute to documenting birdlife and changing environmental conditions in the Arctic. The records are considered likely to provide a complementary resource for future scientific studies and awareness activities.