Posts
Black Skimmer Chick / Photo by Donna Dewhurst (USFWS)Bird news
- Magellanic penguins have declined 50% since the 1960s. The main cause appears to be food scarcity, brought on by overfishing and climate change. Oil spills have caused at least three large-scale nesting failures. Stress from ecotourism may be a factor as well.
- A flock of 200 black skimmers deserted an enclosed nesting area on a Florida beach after a single peregrine attack. The birds may have joined other established colonies.
- At least one California condor chick has been killed by wildfires near Big Sur.
- Golden eagles are declining in Scotland due to the use of poisoned baits.
- Selenium and mercury threatens birds that winter or breed around Utah's Great Salt Lake.
- The Post Express has birding tips for condo dwellers.
- New Jersey may create a special commission to preserve the Dismal Swamp.
- Yemen's new national bird is the golden-winged grosbeak.
- Audubon Magazine Blog: Plovers and Pyros
- Mike's Birding & Digiscoping Blog: Winnie and ANWR
- Urban Hawks: Annus Horribilis
- Drinking Bird: Blow Up Your Field Guides
- Laelaps: Geese from barnacles
- BirdCouple: Birdng by Train
- Excessive carbon dioxide emissions are contributing to ocean acidification, since oceans absorb 40% of emissions. This could contribute to population crashes in commercially-valuable fish species.
- Flaws in the mathematical models used for the IUCN Red List could cause the models to underestimate the extinction risk for many species.
- A state court in Georgia blocked the construction of a new coal-fired power plant because the permit failed to set a limit on carbon emissions from the plant.
- A map created from satellite images documents the progress of world deforestation over a five-year period. Deforestation is linked to biodiversity loss and climate change.
- Land purchased in the Everglades deal may be difficult to rehabilitate because of sugar growing practices and lack of funds. Lack of federal funding has already hampered existing projects.
- Two conservation groups just purchased about 500 square miles of forest in Montana from a timber company.
- Studying dragonfly larvae could be an easy way to test water for toxic chemicals.
