Birds in the News #14
Unfortunately, today's birds in the news is short because I have spent most of this week either teaching or trying to clean my apartment so I will not be embarassed to have a friend from England stay with me this weekend. Despite those commitments, I did manage to find a few links that might interest you.
Birds in Science:
How do scientists tell male from female Tyrannosaurus rex? Well, until recently, they couldn't, but thanks to an interesting discovery, scientists will now be able to identify males and females.
Ivory-billed Woodpecker News:
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has launched a new website for weekly Ivory-billed woodpecker updates. Be sure to bookmark this site for future reference.
This is an interview with Terri Luneau, who wrote a children's book about the Ivory-billed Woodpecker based on the video of the bird that her husband took after ten years of searching for the bird. Her husband was a member of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker search party.
Blogging Birders:
If you are a birder and blogger, you can start your own free birding blog at Surfbirds.com. If you like to read birder's blogs, then you can also access their index of birders' blogs for your reading pleasure. It's a great way to become more connected with the birding community.
Hollywood Birds:
This is a cute video link of a performing African grey parrot from my blogging pal, James, at Ruminating Dude. I hope you enjoy it!
People Helping Birds:
In May 2005, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and Environmental Defense began an innovative program to protect the endangered red-cockaded woodpeckers in 1995 called "Safe Harbor." After signing up, this program rewards private landowners for managing their property to enhance the survival of rare and endangered species. The first private landholder to join the program was Pinehurst golf course, located in the Sandhills of North Carolina where the U.S. Open will be played June 13 through 19.
People Hurting Birds:
In an example of astonishing human cruelty towards birds, charges were filed against a nursing home operator who maimed and starved Canada geese in Loomis, California.
Previous : : Birds in the News : : Next
© 2004, 2005, 2006 by GrrlScientist
posted by GrrlScientist at
13:21
5 Peer Reviews:
Much thanks for the news, again. Since you included a T. Rex article in your bird news, I'm gonna add a short article from Natl. Geographic that also deals with evolution - Malachite sunbirds and "rat's tails" - a good example of mutualism (and that's always nice, eh?). Plus, the picture is pretty.
Thanks for coming up with the week's news. It's amazing how often there are stories about birds in the news. Now that I'm looking for them, I see them all the time. I sent you a link to a story in the Santa Cruz Sentinel about dive-bombing blackbirds in the town that "The Birds" was made about.
I also emailed you a photo of the Western Tanager that was in our yard yesterday. That may not make the news, but it was BIG news at our house!
With all the monoculture and pollution these thousands of golf courses springing up along the East Coast are bringing...glad to one is helping birds.
Speaking of animal behavior, I just caught the tail end of a program on Animal Planet. They had an African Grey, who's owner showed him (from off-site), various pictures, and the parrot described them accurately.
Cool, I thought, more info on avian intelligence. Heh. The writers of this show suggested a different explanation: mental telepathy. And now I wonder why I have cable anyway . . .
Ah, I stand corrected; there are actually four of you who read these news bird round-ups. Well, okay, since there's four of you out there, I guess it's worth it to continue putting these things together.
GrrlScientist
Post a Comment
<< Home