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Birds changing flight habits - 15th November 2021

Several species of birds migrate to warmer countries in Africa for the winter. However, scientists have found that these birds' movements are changing in a big way.

At Durham University, in the UK, a team of scientists have been examining 50 years of data from The Gambia and Gibraltar. They have discovered that many birds are spending up to two months longer in Europe than before.

Changes in the birds' arrival and departure dates were examined. Before, it was thought that birds worked out their migration times by using the length of the day. But the study suggests that climate change and food supplies might be affecting the birds.

Bioscientist Kieran Lawrence said that if these patterns continue, birds may stop migrating and "instead spend the full year within Europe". This will affect other species in Europe and also in the birds' usual winter destinations.

If the birds do not migrate, this will limit food supplies in Europe for the bird populations. In Africa, the loss of the birds could cause environmental issues. Birds help plants to spread and to reproduce. They also eat large numbers of insects.

Professor Stephen Willis, the project leader, hopes to create a new tool to show different possible situations.