Turtle Dove
Surfbirds News: RSPB Archives
Lake Chad in Africa is shrinking and its contraction is amongst changes highlighted in the updated Times Atlas of the World.
Lake Chad has retreated by 95 per cent since 1963 because of water extraction, increased population, overgrazing and less rainfall. This is bad news for Britain’s migrating birds.
Millions of birds including cuckoos, spotted flycatchers, wheatears and turtle doves fly thousands of miles annually, between wintering sites in southern Africa and nesting areas in Britain and other parts of Europe.
Turtle Dove, Jersey, © Romano da Costa
These birds have all declined, in some cases by more than 50 per cent. Problems finding enough food before they return to Britain are amongst the difficulties they are facing.
The Sahel region, where Lake Chad lies, is a major refuelling site for migrating birds. They stop here to feed on insects and berries. A shrunken Lake Chad means much of the vegetation harbouring this food has gone. Less food means underfed birds means fewer will make it to the UK.
We have already noticed, both through survey and anecdote, substantial declines of spotted flycatchers, turtle doves and cuckoos.
|
