Researchers Say Endangered , Birds May Hold the Secret to , Surviving Climate Change.br 'Newsweek' reports that an endangered species of br seabird is changing its migratory pattern to reach more br hospitable climates, offering researchers new insights.br On January 29, researchers at Oxford University's br Biology Department and the University of Liverpool br released the results of a 14-year study.br The team's findings were published in the br 'Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.'.br The long-running study examined the br migratory habits of the Balearic shearwater, br the most endangered bird in Europe. .br The study looked at how behavioral flexibility br can influence a shift in migratory patterns. .br Researchers observed that the birds were migrating farther br and farther north in the summer, moving from the Atlantic br coasts of Spain and France to the United Kingdom.br We found that the best predictor of br this change in migratory behavior br was the average sea surface temperature br in the summering-grounds, suggesting that br the birds may well be following changes br in underlying marine resources, Joe Wynn, study author, via 'Newsweek'.br The fact that individuals can be br this flexible in the face of rapid br climate change is encouraging, Joe Wynn, study author, via 'Newsweek'.br 'Newsweek' reports that the migratory change means the birds br have a longer return trip to the Mediterranean every winter, br the long-term impacts of which remain unclear.br We don't know, for instance, br how the delayed return to the breeding br grounds is affecting their recovery from br migration and courtship behaviors, br which might have knock-on effects br on their breeding success or survival. , Patrick Lewin, study co-author, via 'Newsweek'.br In a species that's already br critically endangered, we really br need answers to those questions.