New York’s birds disappear as wildfire smoke arrivesNew research shows that smoke from distant wildfires is making it harder to spot many bird species during breeding season surveys. Wildfire smoke drifting hundreds of miles from Canada is changing how birds are observed in New York State, according to a new study. Researchers used data from ground-based air quality monitors to measure daily PM2.5 concentrations, a standard marker of wildfire smoke. Many surveys take place in spring and summer months, when wildfire smoke events are becoming increasingly common due to climate change. This study is hopefully a first step to better understanding how species respond to wildfire smoke exposure.’