Climate change causing migrating birds to change flight path, study finds

Coastal flats in Helgeland, Norway, have been a stopping-off point for barnacle geese during migration to Svalbard but new research shows the birds have been changing route over the past half century

A team of scientists from the University of St Andrews, in collaboration with colleagues from the UK, Norway and Denmark, have been analysing the flight patterns of barnacle geese over the past half century.

The species breeds in Greenland and Svalbard, a Norwegian archipelago in the Arctic Ocean, but spends winter further south - thousands flock to Scotland each year, mostly to the Solway Firth.

The study is the first hard evidence that wild animals are changing their behaviour in response to warming of the planet.

Thousands of barnacle geese spend winter in Scotland each year, particularly around the Solway Firth

Barnacle geese traditionally stopped off to fuel-up on food just south of the Arctic circle in Norway on their journey from the UK to nesting sites on Svalbard.

Now most of the flocks break their journey in northern Norway, far above the Arctic circle.

The findings also suggest geese are learning the new habits from each other

The findings are based on analysis of 45 years of observations by the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, the University of St Andrews, the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, BirdLife Norway and the British Waterfowl and Wetlands Trust.

Dr Thomas Oudman, of the School of Biology at the University of St Andrews, said: “It makes sense that the birds went even further north, because where snow used to be very common there at the time of their arrival in Norway, these days it is often freshly green there: the most nutritious stage.

“What surprised us is that it is mainly the young geese who have shifted.

“The youngsters are responding to a trend they could not have experienced during their short life.”