Species such as geese, ducks and swans, that usually migrate from Scandinavia, Russia and Siberia in autumn, are delaying their migration and many are not making it as far as the UK at all. This is because air and water temperatures have risen, so the birds don’t need to migrate as early or fly as far to find warmer climates and food to get them through the winter months.

Researchers have been examining 30 years’ worth of data from the Hanko Bird Observatory in southern Finland. Since 1979, volunteers have been doing a bird count every day. This has shown that some species have been delaying their migration by up to a month.

The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) has backed up this study and says that bird numbers are decreasing across the UK. They give the example of white-fronted geese, whose numbers have gone down by three-quarters (75%) in the last ten years.

Dr Richard Gregory, head of species monitoring and research at the RSPB said the study showed that “wildlife appears to be responding to climate change.”