Not everyone wants to get away this winter!

Friday 30 January 2015

This cold weather might have you itching for sunnier climes but it’s not having the same effect on our feathered friends.

Latest twitching reports show that far fewer birds are flying off to Spain for the winter.

The studies show that climate warming and other environmental changes are causing a shift in the wintering grounds of European birds northwards. Local conservation group Birds on the Edge says the Channel Islands has seen big changes to its wintering birds over the last couple of decades.

Dr Glyn Young says we’re seeing a lot more chiffchaffs, blackcaps and egrets in Jersey in the winter and linnets are also choosing to see out the colder months here instead of heading off to the Med.

He said: "The assumption is that the birds moving north like the egrets are doing so because food is accessible through the warming climate. In future there may also be more movement because of the Mediterranean becoming too hot – dry and fire-prone, habitats may become unsuitable, forcing birds out."

Spain is still seeing temperatures in the high double figures this week but it’s set to get colder and windier here and we’re in for some wintry showers before the weekend.

Dr Young says we can give our local birds a helping hand and keep them well fed during the cold spell.

He said: “Keep the food up and provide drinking water if we get a freeze. Keep everything clean to stop the spread of disease between birds using the feeders.”