A number of rare bird sightings from the Winona area's Dec. 18 Christmas Bird Count left some local experts scratching their heads.
Area ornithology experts believe the misplaced birds are here because of a shift in weather patterns caused by global warming.
"It's over-simplified science," said Richie Swanson, an area bird expert and longtime participant in the count. But global warming has changed plant and insect composition. The alterations have affected the structure of the animals' habitat and food chain, which makes it difficult for the birds to reproduce and survive.
Read the full story in the La Crosse Tribune
