Global warming confusing birds and whales

Wednesday, 09 May 2007

During meetings on climate change among representatives from over 100 countries, specialists said global warming is confusing the biological clocks of birds and whales -- disrupting their migration patterns. Moulay Lahcen El Kabiri, deputy head of the United Nation's Bonn-based Convention on Migratory Species, said that warmer climates are confusing migratory species including bats, dolphins, antelopes and turtles, causing them to end up at the wrong place at the wrong time. "They are the most visible warning signs -- indicators signaling the dramatic changes to our ecosystems caused in part by climate change," he explained to delegates on Monday, the opening day of a May 7-18 UN meeting to discuss how to offset global warming. Not only are birds and animals mistiming their migrations, El Kabiri said, some of them do not even make the attempt as seasonal changes become less clear. Yet unpredictable or extreme weather, such as heatwaves, droughts or cold snaps, could make them vulnerable. Cranes, for example, are remaining in Germany during the winter rather than flying south to Spain. But, El Kabiri warned, "a harsh winter (in Germany) could decimate the population."

 

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