We have now reached the end of our conference. Before you leave, I would like, on your behalf, to thank the organisers –Fundación Migres, in particular Miguel Ferrer and his numerous colleagues, who have worked to make our meeting so stimulating and enjoyable. I would also like to thank Giulea Crema for her role in getting us all here, keeping us informed of developments in the preceding months, and for looking after us so well while we were here. And the two interpreters who have worked so hard to make sure that all the talks were delivered in both Spanish and English.

We owe a great debt of gratitude to our sponsors: the Andalucian Government and the Power Company, Red Eléctrica. Without their crucial help, this conference could not have happened. Lastly, I would like to thank all of you, speakers and participants, for helping to make our conference so successful.  Much new research has been reported here for the first time, and many ideas and plans for cooperative work have emerged during our informal discussions. We are clearly at an exciting stage in migration research.

The talks at this conference have given some flavour of research on all aspects of bird migration, and some feeling for the sense of excitement that prevails now among all of us working in this field. Our science is at a very active phase in its development, helped by the high calibre of the scientists involved, the growing contact and collaboration between them, and the innovative technological developments that are continually making new things possible. Our knowledge and understanding are developing rapidly, and enthusiasm has already emerged for another conference here, in perhaps 2-3 years time, to report and review the new developments.

We could not have had a geographically more appropriate site for our meeting.  As you well know, this region is probably the best in Europe, and one of the best in the world, for the study of bird migration. Most of the birds that breed in western Europe and winter in Africa migrate through this region every spring and autumn, and many others from northern Europe spend the winter here. The area has long been famous for the migration of birds of prey which funnel through to take advantage of the short sea-crossing to Africa, but millions of other, smaller land-birds follow the same route, as do many sea-birds just offshore. It is a wonderful place for basic research, and for measuring the changes in bird migration patterns that are already occurring in response to global climate change, and to monitor the birds for signs of any new and emerging diseases.

Several delegates have mentioned, during the last few days, the desirability of constructing an International Research Station here in Andalucia, in order to foster the more detailed study of migration. A world-class centre for local scientists to conduct research, to train students and other young people in the study of migration, and to act as a base for visiting scientists from abroad to come here for periods, and work alongside their Spanish colleagues. In such a geographically magnificent place for bird migration, what an exciting development this would be, and what a great contribution it could make to the development of migration science. Think of all that could be done to increase our knowledge and understanding, and to monitor changes in the numbers and migration patterns of birds that will surely occur in the coming years in association with further climate change.

So in thanking everyone today – organisers and sponsors, speakers and participants – this is an exciting prospect which I would like to leave with you. Let us hope that, somehow, it can be made to happen.

Professor Ian Newton