At the time of writing, we are in the middle of the United Nations World Summit on all-things Climate Change. It is also referred to as the 'Conference of the Parties' and this is the 29th such convention, hence the marketing moniker 'COP29'. People far cleverer than I will be analysing and reporting on the strategic imperatives to emerge from this global event. That said, it has got me thinking; when did the world first start to hear about climate change? Then, given my love of birds, which UK species are most affected by the phenomenon ... either way ... the winners and the losers? Read on to find out more.

A brief history: In 1938, British steam engineer and amateur scientist Guy Callendar decided to begin collating records from 150 weather stations spread around the world. After performing innumerable calculations (all by hand), he discovered that the Earth's temperatures had risen 0.3°C over the previous half-century. The concept of 'Global Warming' had arrived ... nearly. Naturally, Callendar's conclusions were ignored by 'real' scientists. The jury was most definitely out. 

Fast-forward to 1975. Geochemist Wallace Broecker, of Columbia University, launched the term 'Climatic Change' onto an unsuspecting world. The jury was still out, but his term was somehow more palatable than 'Global Warming', with its inevitable images of a world on fire! 

Then in June 1988, when NASA scientist James E. Hansen testified to the U.S. Congress on the subject of climate, he used both terms as he presented what was deemed to be irrefutable evidence of 'the Greenhouse Effect'. It had only taken 50 years, but the jury was back and the verdict was in. Reality bites! 

During the 1980s, while we humans were deliberating over this 'Climate Change' stuff and worrying about how ditching chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), to re-close the hole in the Ozone Layer, might affect our deodorant sprays, the birds and the bees just bought-in and got on with it, as best they could. To some creatures, Climate Change represents a threat, perhaps to their very existence; to others, however, it shouts (in the words of the late Hughie Green) "Opportunity Knocks". 

Climate Change - avian Casualties 

Britain's breeding seabirds are greatly impacted upon by the negative effects of warming sea temperatures, which is disrupting the marine food-chain, from plankton to fish populations. Many seabirds rely on small fish, such as sand-eels, to feed their chicks during the breeding season, particularly those on North Sea colonies. On average, our breeding seabird populations have declined by 25% over the last three decades! This includes, for example, the kittiwake, fulmar and everyone's favourite, the puffin.

Puffins are unmistakable, with their distinctive black head, large pale cheeks and their flattened, brightly-coloured bill. Their comical appearance is heightened by the red and black eye-markings and bright orange legs. This clown among seabirds is one of the world's favourite birds, but with half of the UK population at only a few sites, it's a Red List species. For info: a bird on the Red List is a species of greatest conservation concern and in need of urgent action/support.

Inland, on higher ground, our upland birds are also struggling to come to terms with global warming. Hot, dry summers are reducing the abundance and availability of soil-dwelling invertebrates, such as earthworms and craneflies, that represent crucial food supplies. If you've ever tried digging your garden when the soil is dry and hard, you can appreciate the challenge that our upland birds now face.

The curlew is the largest European wading bird, found on estuaries in winter and upland moors in summer. Look for its down-curved bill, brown upperparts, long legs and listen for its evocative, bubbling call. There have been worrying declines in the breeding population, such that in 2015 curlews were added to the conservation Red List.

Climate change is also affecting the soundtrack to our springtime. When was the last time you heard a cuckoo?  For me, they look like a cross between a dove and a sparrowhawk. Cuckoos are summer visitors and 'brood parasites'. Instead of building their own nest, the females lay their eggs in other birds’ nests, especially those of meadow pipits, dunnocks and reed warblers. A cuckoo youngster will hatch after just 12 days, then push the hosts’ eggs or babies out of the nest, allowing it to eat all the food brought in by the host parents. With their young being raised by another bird, adult cuckoos are then free to leave the UK so much earlier than other migrants. Young cuckoos, therefore, travel all the way to Africa, in their first year, without any parental guidance. Imagine that! Unfortunately, they also sit alongside curlews and puffins on the Red List.

Climate change - avian conquistadors

The egrets of the Mediterranean were the first birds to embrace climate change. For them, opportunity most definitely knocked. Just four decades ago, we would have needed to venture to southern France or beyond to see these beautiful water birds, but not anymore. I'm writing this on 16th November 2024, and over the preceding week I have visited three local wetland areas, seeing at a rough estimate, forty egrets across all three sites.

Little egrets were the pioneers. During the 1980s they ventured northward through France, first landing on our shores in 1989. They are now all-year-round residents across much of the UK. The little egret is a small white heron, with black legs and bill but outrageous yellow feet! The next conquistadors were the cattle egrets, that first bred here in 2008 in Somerset; there is now an expanding population in southern Britain. They too are small white herons, with yellow-grey legs and a yellow beak. They are often seen with livestock, running between their feet to catch insects or even sitting on their backs. Last, but certainly not least, came the great white egret, first nesting here, also in Somerset, in 2012. It is a large, white bird, around the same size as the familiar grey heron. Other identification features to look out for include black feet (not yellow) and a yellow beak. In flight they are truly graceful.

Finally (for now) the latest exotic water bird from the Med to breed here is the glossy ibis. At a glance, it looks uniformly dark, but a close look in good light reveals a palette of stunning colours: deep maroon, emerald, bronze, and violet. This long-legged, long-billed bird forages in wet habitat, for insects, fish and seeds.

Rest assured, there will be more water bird species following the north-bound trail blazed by those little egrets during the 80s; all prepared to swap the Camargue for the likes of Cleethorpes or Clacton-on-Sea! The Rhone Delta's most famous residents, however, have yet to show any interest in the climate change agenda; namely the flamingos. That said, 25 years from now, when someone is composing a wildlife article for Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, will they be able to reference 'UK flamingos' I wonder? Or even Staffordshire's flamingos??? To coin a phrase, first penned by Charles Dickens (The Pickwick Papers - 1837) ... 'never say never'. I have, after all, seen all five aforementioned ‘conquistadors’ right here in Staffordshire in recent times. Stay cool.