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Flexible nesting may help birds cope with climate change
The timing of egg laying is crucial as it affects how much food is available to chicks after they hatch.

Some species able to adjust egg-laying times

A study of four British woodland birds has revealed that flexible nesting times may help them to cope with climate change.

Working with the British Trust for Ornithology, researchers at the University of Edinburgh have shown that the birds are able to adjust their egg-laying times in response to rising temperatures.

The researchers say that this flexibility may enable the birds to continue to lay at the optimum time as climate changes.

In the study, the researchers combined 100,000 observations of blue tits, chaffinches, great tits, and pied flycatchers with daily temperature records covering the same period.

The birds appeared to be well equipped to cope with seasonal temperature changes brought about by climate change.

The team say that even if spring temperatures rise rapidly in coming years, the species’ ability to adjust their nesting times could help them to survive.

"We know that birds use spring temperatures to adjust the timing of egg-laying, and the big question is whether this flexibility will allow birds to lay at the right time under future warmer conditions," said Dr Ally Phillimore, of the University of Edinburgh's School of Biological Sciences.

“For these four woodland species we suggest this flexibility in the timing of egg-laying does an excellent job of tracking variation in optimum timing.”

The timing of egg laying is crucial as it affects how much food is available to chicks after they hatch.

For over fifty years birdwatchers have recorded the first egg-laying dates of British birds and submitted them to the British Trust for Ornithology.

The study team warn that their conclusions are sensitive to how spring temperature cue is defined and
further research is needed to make more accurate predictions about how birds may adjust to climate change.

The study is published in the journal Global Change Biology.

Image (C) University of Edinburgh

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

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News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.