Birds are commonly known as Most birds fly and have feathers. Most bird species make long migrations every year. Some birds have become extinct or are close to extinction due to harmful activities. Birds are mostly affected by oil spills, climate change and pollutants. Earth's environment, such as plants and animals, are damaged by air pollution. Occasionally, pollutants cause environmental damage. But sometimes they merge and alter the resources that plants and animals need to survive, such as water, soil and nutrients. Air pollutants such as sulfuric acid mix with the water molecules that clouds are made of, the water molecules become acidic. When these liquid droplets fall to the ground as rain or snow, the acidity of the water can have a harmful effect on the environment. Acid rain kills trees and injures animals such as fish and other animals. Acid rain breaks down plant leaves. The chemistry of the soil is altered making it unhealthy for living things that need soil for food or for their environment. The chemistry of lakes and rivers that rainwater flows through is also affected by acid rain, which also harms fish and other marine life. Air pollutants are called chlorofluorocarbons. They are in the stratosphere and break down ozone molecules. The result is affected areas that have a thin layer of ozone, called ozone holes. The ozone layer which is located in the earth's atmosphere where the stratosphere is located, protects the earth from ultraviolet radiation produced by the sun. This can cause skin cancer and be harmful to plants and animals. In recent decades the amount of chlorofluorocarbons released into the air has decreased significantly and...... middle of paper ......and near shore are damaged by oil. Climate change affects plants and animals. Bird life could increase if oil spills, greenhouse gases and air pollutants were put to an end. Works Cited Broder, John M. “Climate Change Threatens Migratory Birds, Report Says.” The New York Times. Np, 12 March 2010. Web. 22 April 2014. "Climate change: effects on animals, birds and plants." Climate change affects animals, plants and birds. Np, nd Web. April 22, 2014. Gardiner, Lisa. “Air pollution affects plants, animals and environments.” Windows on the universe. Np, 21 Feb. 2006. Web. 21 Apr. 2014. “IBRRC: How Oil Affects Birds.” International Bird Rescue Research Centre. Np, nd Web. April 22, 2014. Mayntz, Melissa. “How Oil Affects Birds – Effects of Oil Pollution on Birds.” Birdwatching and wild birds. The New York Times Company and the Web. April 22. 2014.