Anja Murray: It's officially spring and with it come eggs from almost every animal kingdom

The Nordic lunar goddess ‘Eostre’ had the head of a hare, and according to legend it was she who laid the egg of new spring life each year. Over time, this story has become the exceedingly strange notion of a bunny bringing us chocolate easter eggs to eat

Viviparous lizard. Picture: Corbis

It's officially (astronomical) spring at last.

On March 20 we passed the vernal equinox, when the Earth’s northern hemisphere begins tilting toward the sun as it orbits, marking the astronomical beginning of Spring. In response, trees, whose buds keep track of daylight hours, initiate the unfurling of new spring leaves. Birds prepare for breeding season by singing earnestly to mark their territory and attract a mate. Lots of invertebrates emerge from their winter hibernation and begin laying eggs in soil, under leaves, and in other suitably cryptic locations.