Feeling hot? Get ready for ‘egg boom’

The overall warming due to climate change might lead to a ‘‘baby boom’’ among at least two-thirds of bird species. A survey of almost 54,000 birds says due to higher temperatures in the spring of 2003, eggs were laid earlier than usual, with most showing ‘‘above average productivity’’.

That, however, might not be the most important factor in the study by a team from the Museum of Natural History in Paris. Dr Romain Julliard and his colleagues studied the impact of climate change, especially last year’s hot spring and summer, on 32 species of birds. The report will be published today.

The stonechat, robin, blue tit, cirl bunting, Cetti’s warbler and greater spotted woodpecker showed a ‘‘baby boom’’, said Dr Julliard. The losers were the willow warbler, willow tit, yellowhammer, wren and bullfinch, which were already suffering from long-term decline.