Fall freeze–thaw events depress Canada Jay reproduction months later

Royal Society Open Science
Published April 10, 2019 | 17:01 EDT (Brief from the Royal Society)
Canada jays (Perisoreus canadensis) rely on perishable food cached in the fall to fuel late-winter reproduction. Forty years of breeding data from a population at the southern edge of the bird’s range show that frequency of fall freeze–thaw events leads to reduced brood size, nest success, and nestling condition. Long-term warming could threaten Canada jays and other food-caching species that store perishable food for long periods of time.

Lead author: Alex Sutton, University of Guelph – asutto01@uoguelph.ca