Tarifa’s new bird lab to become world leader for migration

A BRAND new laboratory in Tarifa is set to become a world leader in the study of global change on bird migration.

The Centre of Migration and Global Change, launched by wildlife monitoring programme Fundacion Migres, will develop key scientific research into bird distribution.

The foundation was given the 303,000 square metre site by the Ministry of Defence, and has the support of the Junta, the Council of Cadiz and the Universities of Cadiz, Sevilla and Cordoba, among others.

Construction is set to begin immediately on the laboratory, which will be part of a network of centres and observatories to detect changes in migration patterns, and predict future scenarios.

Tarifa is an ideal location to coordinate data from Europe, America, Africa and the Middle East, and is one of the most biologically diverse regions in Europe.

The hotspot for migratory crossings sees more than 30 million birds of 380 different species pass through its skies every year.