Dr Roy Armstrong today has warned that millions of migrating birds may be facing extinction due to the melting polar ice caps. Turtle Doves, Cuckoos, Yellow Wagtails are among the species of birds whom migrate to West Africa each year facing the threat. Shrinking Polar ice caps mean that there is likely to be droughts due to less rainfall in places such as Gambria and Chad. Dr Armstrong said that statstics have shown that the last three decades have seen declines in many British bird species with Turtle Doves numbers falling by 88%, Yellow Wagtails by 70%, Spotted Flycatchers by 87% and Tree Pipits by 83%. These are huge decreases and the situation is said to be 'extremely serious'.
Dr Armstrong believes eco-tourism could be a happy solution to the problem, "It seems as if the only way we could look after the problem there is by encouraging investment in eco-tourism. The kind of savannah environment that tourists like would be ideal for our migrant birds as well".
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cumbria/7683473.stm
