The Wealth of Nations
Wheatears no longer visit these shores,
No-one knows why.
Some say global warming
has driven them far to the north,
Some say deforestation and burning
Withered their winter grounds to ash,
Some say pesticide and pollution
Destroyed their invertebrate prey,
And some say trapping and shooting
on their long Mediterranean way.
Wheatears no longer visit these shores,
Everyone knows why.
