Female peregrine falcon prepares to lay in the nest in the "high-rise" of Moscow State University ahead of schedule due to warming temperatures

A female peregrine falcon has started preparing her nest in a niche on the Moscow State University building in Moscow to lay eggs early. This happened due to abnormal warming in the capital. This was reported to "Izvestia" ornithologists who observe the nesting site with a camera.

"The thaw has affected birds of prey as well as everyone else. And this can have unfavorable consequences. The camera, which is installed in the nest of a peregrine falcon on the MSU building, showed that the female flew in and in the nesting niche began to rake the substrate, as happens before laying eggs. Clearly, hormones contribute to this, otherwise they don't do it in the winter. This requires a plus temperature", - said leading researcher of the Laboratory "Biodiversity" FGBU "VNII Ecology" Alexander Sorokin.

However, he noted, this mechanism is triggered not only by temperature, but also by illumination.

"And the length of the daylight hours is still small, and this factor should level out the abnormal heat, but there is a question here that will drag the situation. But it is unfavorable: if the birds lay eggs, they will freeze when the frost starts," Sorokin added.

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