A study conducted by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) has discovered a connection between diminishing populations of 16 United Kingdom bird species, and rainfall patterns in their migratory destinations of the African Sahel region near the Sahara Desert.

Many of the species, including the tree pipit and the turtle dove, have experienced up to 85% population declines since 1966. The researchers believe that lower rainfall patterns and reduced habitats in Africa are in turn making fewer fruits and seeds available for the birds.

British Trust Ornithology ecologist Dr. Nancy Ockendon noted that birds flying back to the UK according to a regular migratory schedule might be too weak from lack of adequate food to survive the migration, while those that delay to build up enough energy for the return flight could arrive too late to nest and create new families.

Both possibilities place the species’ survival in jeopardy. Dr. Ockendon, we thank you and your colleagues at the British Trust for Ornithology for highlighting this crucial connection between a warming climate and avian survival.

May concerned leaders and citizens alike engage in effective mitigation to maintain the healthful lives of both our human and animal co-inhabitants.During an August 2009 videoconference in Thailand, Supreme Master Ching Hai spoke of the plight being endured by many of our animal co-inhabitants while offering insight into how we can best ensure their survival.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/7981699/Migratory-birds-decline-in-UK-due-to-low-African-rain.html