Change to our climate puts birds in danger; Fall in bug numbers hits uplands.

Byline: Tony Henderson Environment Editor

BIRDS which symbolise the uplands of the North East are in danger from the effects of climate change, a study shows.

Hill and moorland breeding species such as curlew, golden plover and lapwing time the hatching of their young to coincide with the emergence of cranefly, or daddy long legs.

These provide food for the chicks but studies show that warming temperatures in August are dramatically reducing populations of the insects.

The fear is that the birds could be pushed towards local extinction by the end of the century.

"It is a serious threat and we could lose some of the bird species in the long term," said Newcastle University ecologist Dr Mark Whittingham, who has been involved in the study.

It looked at a population of golden plover over a period of 25 years, but the findings also apply to other upland birds and lowland species like thrushes.

"It shows that August temperatures are a key driver of change in the golden plover population and are also linked to cranefly abundance," said Dr Whittingham.

Increasing temperatures can kill the eggs and larvae of cranefly in peatland soils as the surface dries out, resulting in a drop of up to 95% in numbers of adult insects emerging in early summer the next year.

"The situation is likely to persist.

We know it is going to get warmer," said Dr Whittingham.

" With these But it also points a way forward to how we can attempt to strengthen habitats to help wildlife adapt to our changing climate and prevent such consequences.

As a result of average temperature increasing by 1.9degC in late summer in the study area over the last 35 years, this has become the most important climatic factor affecting the local golden plover population.

The RSPB's Dr James Pearce Higgins said: "This is the most worrying development that I have found in my scientific career to date.

"However, by understanding these processes, we have the chance to respond. If we can maintain good quality habitats for cranefly we can help birds too. "

This could include blocking moorland drainage ditches to keep the peatlands damp.

A project in the North Pennines is tackling 6,500 km of drainage ditches which is causing peat bogland to dry out.

More than 200km of grips were blocked last year.

CAPTION(S):

UNDER THREAT The Curlew and Golden Plover, inset are at risk from global warming.