Wildlife Groups Select Grosse Ile to Release Climate Change Report

Grosse Ile's unique wildlife made it an opportune spot for the National Wildlife Federation to release a new climate change report Tuesday, according to a NWF release

The report, "Shifting Skies: Migratory Birds in a Warming World” covers how climate change is disrupting bird habitats and will likely lead to more birds being put on the endangered species list, according to the release.

Environmental groups The Sierra Club and Clean Water Action also attended the press conference, which was led by former Rep. Kathleen Law of Gibraltar.

“Michigan’s state bird, the American robin, and other wildlife are currently dealing with a climate crisis that grows worse with each passing year,” said Frank Szollosi, Great Lakes regional outreach coordinator for National Wildlife Federation, in the release. “With rapidly changing climatic conditions driven by carbon pollution, migrating birds cannot adapt to habitat changes quickly enough.”

The report discusses birds found across Michigan including the Ruby-throated Hummingbird and Sandhill Crane, which are found on Grosse Ile.

“As a member of Michigan’s House of Representatives, I fought tirelessly to preserve Michigan’s natural beauty, introducing and sponsoring legislation aimed at protecting our wildlife and water resources,” Law said in the release. “This report clearly shows climate change is having a detrimental effect on our state’s wildlife and we must take action to address that before it’s too late.”

The report stresses the reduction of carbon pollution caused by power plants, oil refineries and cars, which the NWF believe to be causes for climate change.