Link with 1 note
I find it very disappointing with all the citizen science data that is regularly collected concerning birds in the US and Britain that there has not been a more detailed investigation into bird death due to window collisions. I have found enough dead birds by windows even before I started doing rehab with birds to know the numbers are significant, but it would be beneficial to have hard data to be able to convince members of the public and architects to take action.
It disappoints me that even in conservation settings designers often choose beautiful, large windows without consideration of bird strikes. The new visitor centre and cafe at the Cairns Botanical Gardens is a perfect example of a new building, in a natural setting meant to conserve wildlife and is regularly killing birds instead. There are ways to design windows where they are more visible to birds so why wouldn’t you?
Maybe these deaths are not significant compared to other challenges birds face like cats and habitat destruction, but it is because the other challenges are so dire that I think birds need all the help they can get, and thinking a bit more about how we place and coat windows would not be that challenging or costly.
Source: BBC
Awkward! Just a funny photo for your amusement, and yes, there is a bird.
Source: Boing Boing
And now for a little good endangered bird news after that horrible Middle East hunting story.
Source: birdlife.org
I have been planning to write something enthusiastic for the readers of the WorldWaders News Blog as there would be a reason for celebration. Today WorldWaders celebrates its 3rd birthday. I set th…
This is upsetting. I am not opposed to hunting for food purposes. In my mind there is really no other reason to hunt, but apparently not everyone feels the way I do. I also don’t think there is any excuse for uninformed hunting or hunting endangered animals. However, it seems that hunting for sport is alive and well in the Middle East and it is killing thousands of endangered migratory waders. How can you protect animals half a world away traveling through countries that do not value their existence on the planet?
Source: worldwaders.wordpress.com
THE Cawdor community has a new friend in the skies a tough baby wedge-tailed eagle.
Your feel good wildlife story for the day :)
Source: dailytelegraph.com.au
Images of Nordic Nature. - BY 15 SWEDISH PHOTOGRAPHERS
Stunning bird pictures from the Nordic region! For fun and enjoyment.
Source: imagesofnordicnature.com
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/birds-mate-life-cheat/story?id=18949572#.UW_PeruXQ09
Certain bird species have long been seen as the human ideal of monogamy, but more and more DNA evidence is showing that these birds are no more virtuous than we are. While they may pair bond for life, they often like to have a bit on the side to increase genetic diversity. Perhaps people could learn to be as forgiving as birds to their mates that stray. It is in the best interest of evolution to spread our genes around, but that doesn’t mean we can’t partner for life.
Source: abcnews.go.com
Link with 1 note
A nice article about rehabbing baby hummingbirds. My tiny swallows and honeyeaters need a lot of daytime attention, but not quite this much daytime attention.
Source: audubonmagazine.org
Evolution gets discussed quite a bit, and you can definitely see signs of it in the fossil record. However, t is rare to be able to watch evolution of a complex animal (bacteria evolve like crazy), but it appears some swallows are evolving before researcher’s eyes. Of course, perhaps we are just discovering how to recognize evolution in progress.
Source: gizmodo.com.au
Link with 1 note
I love good news for an endangered species. It makes me feel like conservation efforts are paying off. I just wish there were more good stories to go with all the ones of animals slipping away into extinction. A lot of work still needs to go into saving the world’s albatross, but it is nice to see that things are headed in the right direction.
Source: birdlife.org.au
A nice selection of bird photography.
Source: audubonmagazine.org
I think that it is good that the world is working to help preserve this area of vast biodiversity, but I think it is also setting a dangerous precedent. What is to stop Ecuador to demand more payments in the future as oil prices go up? As oil reserves dwindle and prices soar, I suspect any part of the planet harboring oil is in danger. I wish they could drill for oil without destroying the ecosystem. Maybe that is the best that we can hope for: that the payments buy time for oil drilling to become less environmentally damaging? Of course the current rate of disastrous oil spills do not give me great hope.
Source: audubonmagazine.org
I hate hearing about species that are crashing, particularly when the cause is not understood. I hope that they can get a population in a captive breeding program before it is too late. I have heard objections to captive breeding, but I think having a reserve in captivity is much better than losing a species even if it can never be fully wild again. I hope they can figure out what is going on and change the environment to give these little guys a chance. Every species is precious- even a little sparrow.
Source: articles.orlandosentinel.com
This is so cool! I wish Sports Illustrated still covered such a wide diversity of sporting interests. Professional and college sports don’t interest me at all, but hiking, birdwatching, kayaking, and sailing would interest me a lot. It is odd that the magazine has become so specialized when a lot of non-traditional sports get a lot more attention elsewhere.
Source: ctaudubon.blogspot.com.au
Video with 6 notes
Here is another good scientific video comparing the problem solving techniques of a Kea parrot vs a crow. Both birds do extremely well and are more limited by their anatomy than their brains.
Source: youtube.com
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