Pointed wings better adapted to travelling long distances are giving way to rounded ones that work better on shorter trips It takes the dexterity of a lacemaker to remove the tiny bird caught in nets strung between pine trees on Poland's Baltic coast, a veritable paradise for dozens of migratory species. Polish ornithologist Jaroslaw Nowakowski delicately unravels the Goldcrest, among Europe's smallest bird species, placing it inside a muslin bag before moving it to a make-shift laboratory in a tent for measuring and tagging with rings. The hulking professor says studies by the University of Gdansk over the last 55 years show a disturbing trend in the wings of certain species. "Pointed wings better adapted to travelling long distances are giving way to more rounded ones that work better on shorter trips," Nowakowski said, blaming "global warming, urbanisation and deforestation" for the change. "Thanks to our extensive records, we have solid proof of the change and have raised the alarm, but generally to no avail. "Climate change is nothing new, but today humans are triggering very rapid changes and certain species aren't able to adapt - that's the greatest risk." Migratory birds face a myriad of other man-made threats. Hundreds of thousands, if not millions, end up on dinner plates around the Mediterranean basin. Snipes, with their long, slender bill, are considered a delicacy from Cyprus to France, even though they provide precious little meat. The colourful Goldcrest that Nowakowski has just removed from the net is tiny, yet mighty. Weighing in at just 4.5 grams (0.16 ounces), it can easily fly cross the Baltic. After weighing it and measuring its wings and tail, Nowakowski fastens a numbered ring around one of its legs that will help track its winter migration south or west. Fifteen volunteers check 50 nets for new birds around the clock. Any delay in removing them could prove fatal.AFP