Extreme weather is hitting baby birds hard in a 60-year study

Decades of data from over 80,000 great tits reveal that extreme weather can shape the fate of baby birds. Cold snaps soon after hatching and heavy rain later in development shrink nestling body mass and reduce survival odds. But moderate warm spells can actually help chicks grow by boosting insect activity and feeding opportunities. Birds that breed earlier in the season seem better protected from these weather shocks.