Changes in the Environment

Red-bellied Woodpecker in a tree on the farm side at Hampton.

NPS/Durovick

Changes in Wildlife

The species that call Hampton National Historic Site and the surrounding areas home will experience shifts in their distribution and behavior as the climate changes, this is mostly due to the associated changes in temperature and precipitation. As conditions change, plants and animals are moving to stay comfortable. Over 200 bird species have been observed shifting their winter ranges. Many cultural important species such as the Baltimore Oriole are becoming more rare in Maryland and may eventually be gone from the region entirely. Birds are one of the species that are heavily impacted by climate change. The migration patterns of birds can change every year depending on temperatures. (Source1) (Source 2) (Source 3)

Have you ever heard of the canary in the coalmine? Through most of the 20th century, canaries were a huge part of the coal mining industry. As coal miners entered a harsh environment, often home to poisonous gases like carbon monoxide—they would bring the yellow birds along as safety mechanisms. Because carbon monoxide is clear and odorless, miners needed a method for detecting a leak before it killed them. In the mine, a canary’s collapse let workers know there was poisonous gas in the air and gave them some warning time to evacuate. While Hampton National Historic Site doesn’t contain coalmines, birds and other wildlife are still a good indicator for the health of our ecosystem. (Source 4)

 

New invasive tick species are introduced everyday, and can be very hard to spot in the natural environment.

CDC

What is an Invasive Species and why are they a problem?

An invasive species is an introduced, nonnative organism (disease, parasite, plant, or animal) that begins to spread or expand its range from the site of its original introduction and that has the potential to cause harm to the environment, the economy, or to human health.A few well-known examples include the unintentional introduction of the West Nile virus, chestnut blight, the South American fire ant, zebra mussels, Burmese pythons, and sea lamprey. These are in addition to the intentional introductions of salt cedar (Tamarisk), kudzu vine, house sparrows, starlings, and nutria.Harmful, non-native species can be found in all ecosystems across the United States. These species can cause costly economic and ecological damage each year including crop decimation, clogging of water facilities and waterways, wildlife and human disease transmission, threats to fisheries, increased fire vulnerability, and adverse effects for ranchers and farmers. (Source 5)

Climate change is also expanding the range of over 100 invasive species into the region surounding Hampton, as well as expanding the range of dangerous disease-carrying insects. The increase in temperature has allowed 3 new tick species to expand their range into Maryland, although these species do not carry the infamous Lyme disease, they do carry other illnesses. Additionally, the warmer average temperatures have increased Lyme transmission by lengthening “tick season” by a few weeks on either end of summer. (Source 6)

Some of the most common invasives are Tree-of-Heaven, Phragmites, and the Emerald Ash Borer. Natural resource staff at Hampton use various techniques to manage these and restore the landscape to its native state. One way the issue is being addressed is through restoration. 2 acres of the fields in front of the mansion are being converted from invasive grasses to a native pollinator meadow. This change will attract pollinators such as Monarch Butterflies and bees and provide habitat for ground-nesting and breeding birds as well as other insects and pollinators. This test plot will serve as an example and learning opportunity ahead of future restoration efforts.

 

Learn More

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  Climate Change Resources

  Earth is our home, let's learn how to protect it together graphic from NASA

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  Understanding Climate Change

  An overview of climate change and its impacts

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  Change in Daily Weather

  Daily weather and temperature patterns could change thanks to climate change