Data from: Breeding phenological response to spring weather conditions in common Finnish birds: resident species respond stronger than migratory species

National bird-nest record schemes provide a valuable data source to study large-scale changes in basic breeding biology and effects of climate change on birds. Using nest-record scheme data from 26 common Finnish breeding bird species from whole Finland, we estimated the laydate of the first egg for 129 063 nesting attempts. We then investigated the relationship of mean spring temperature and spring precipitation sum to changes in the onset of laying over the period 1961–2012. In addition, we examine differences in response to these climatic variables for species grouped for different life history strategies; migration, diet and habitat. Finally, we test whether body size is related to the strength of phenological response. We show that 26 common Finnish breeding bird species have advanced their laying dates over time and to an increase in the mean spring temperature over the study period. When species are grouped according life history strategies, we find that breeding phenological change is negatively associated with changes in the mean spring temperature where residents respond strongest to changes in mean spring temperature, but also short- and long-distance migrants advance laydates with increasing spring temperatures. Breeding phenological change is also associated with spring precipitation, where resident species delay and short-distance migrants advance the onset of breeding. In addition we find that omnivorous species respond stronger than insectivorous species to changes in spring temperature. In contrast to results from an earlier study, we do not find evidence that small-sized species respond stronger to spring temperature than large-sized species. As climate warming is predicted to continue in the future, long-term citizen science schemes, such as the Finnish nest-card scheme, prove to be a valuable cost-effective way to monitor the environment and allow investigation into how species are responding to changes in their environment.

全国性鸟巢记录计划（national bird-nest record schemes）为研究基础繁殖生物学（breeding biology）的大规模变化以及气候变化对鸟类的影响提供了宝贵的数据源。本研究利用覆盖芬兰全境的26种常见繁殖鸟类的鸟巢记录计划数据，对129063次筑巢尝试（nesting attempts）的首枚卵的产卵日期（laydate）进行了估算。随后，我们分析了1961年至2012年间春季平均气温与春季降水总量对产卵起始时间变化的影响关系。此外，我们还针对按不同生活史策略（life history strategy，包括迁徙模式、食性与栖息地）划分的鸟类类群，检验了它们对这些气候变量的响应差异。最后，我们验证了体型大小是否与物候响应（phenological response）强度相关。研究结果表明，在本研究时段内，芬兰26种常见繁殖鸟类的产卵日期均随时间推移而提前，且随春季平均气温的升高而进一步提前。当按生活史策略对物种进行分组后，我们发现繁殖物候变化与春季平均气温变化呈负相关：留鸟（resident species）对春季平均气温变化的响应最为强烈，但短距离迁徙鸟类（short-distance migrants）与长距离迁徙鸟类（long-distance migrants）也会随春季气温升高而提前产卵。繁殖物候变化同样与春季降水总量相关：留鸟会随春季降水增加而推迟繁殖起始时间，而短距离迁徙鸟类则会提前进入繁殖期。此外我们还发现，杂食性（omnivorous）鸟类对春季气温变化的响应强度高于食虫性（insectivorous）鸟类。与此前一项相关研究的结论不同，本研究并未发现小型鸟类对春季气温变化的响应强度高于大型鸟类的证据。鉴于未来气候变暖趋势仍将持续，诸如芬兰鸟巢卡片计划（Finnish nest-card scheme）这类长期公民科学（citizen science）计划，已被证明是一种兼具成本效益的宝贵环境监测手段，能够助力我们探究各类物种如何响应其生存环境的变化。