There is an interesting story on the impacts of climate change on bird
migrations at
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/environment/story.jsp?story=470867
The article concludes with the following poem, which may be of interest
to some ...
Regards, Laurie.
CLUB BLACKCAP WINTER BREAKS BY IoS POET IN RESIDENCE MARTIN NEWELL
"The Med just isn't what it was"
The blackcap warbled to his friends.
"We're witnessing a sea-change here
Quite literally, in travel trends.
As Britain's been upgraded now
A group of us who went last year
Were pleasantly surprised to find
It's warmer than it might appear.
Another plus is catering
A previous drawback of the place
It used to be a standing joke
The Britain/cooking interface
Among the more discerning birds
Who once comprised the Euro-set
In days when crumbs or rock-hard bread
Were generally the best you'd get
When Mrs Blackcap and myself
Flew out from Hamburg last migration
Attracted by the shorter flight
But daunted by accommodation
Initially we weren't too sure
Until we saw the feeder ball
The grated cheese, the bacon rinds
The tables groaning with it all.
- What really sold the place to us
Was climate - not just buffet bars
Our boffins haven't figured out
The humans' love affair with cars
But milder winters which ensued
Although perhaps not meant to be
Make long-haul flights to Africa
Seem suddenly 'last century'"
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