Climate change keeping early birds from getting worms: study

New research suggests that climate change is starting to keep early birds from getting the worms.

York University scientist Kevin Fraser says that while last year’s spring arrived earlier than ever, migratory birds such as purple martins didn’t.

That means the birds weren’t around when food such as newly hatched insects was most available.

Fraser says that’s likely to damage the birds’ ability to breed and might be one reason why their overall numbers are declining.

He cautions that his study was based on one year’s migration.

More research is needed to determine how able birds are to adjust their schedule to the changing climate.