How Climate Change Alters Rhythms of the Wild

摘要

Each year for 31 years, biologist Jerram Brown has trekked into the Chiricahua Mountains of southern Arizona to chronicle the rites of spring for a population of Mexican jays. Brown adheres to his own ritual: The biologist from the State University of New York, Albany, notes on which date the females lay their first clutch, then several weeks later he shinnies up 15-meter-tall Chi- huahua pines to band each and every chick. His perseverance has paid off with an intriguing observation: The jays are laying their eggs earlier and earlier each season. By 1998, the first eggs of the season arrived 10 days earlier than in 1971.