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American Goldfinch and Pine SiskinBird and birding news
- When engaged in a confrontation, Swamp Sparrows sing more physically difficult songs by increasing their speed and frequency range.
- A CT scan revealed that Archaeopteryx had a more similar ear structure to modern birds than to modern reptiles. It appears to have had a hearing range of about 2,000 Hz, similar to an emu.
- A team of ecologists from Rutgers is studying plant succession and wildlife at a highly-toxic brownfield site within Liberty State Park. So far, some of the findings include a very slow succession rate and very high levels of heavy metals in house wrens. (via) (This site was part of our territory on the Lower Hudson CBC.)
- A coalition of conservation groups recently preserved 120,000 acres in the heart of Appalachia. The area provides important habitat for Cerulean Warbers, Golden-winged Warblers, and other troubled species.
- A flock of geese is being blamed for the crash of US Airways flight 1549 in New York City, based on transmissions between the pilot and control towers. The NTSB has not yet ruled on the cause. Keep in mind that the I-35W bridge collapse, caused by structural problems, was initially blamed on pigeons, so these initial judgments are subject to change. The good news is that everyone survived.
- A British birder watched a new life bird get carried away by a hawk.
- IBRRC: Theories abound: Pelican numbers updated
- Birders Report: Burrowing Owl Conservation In California
- Stokes: "Sharpie" Attack
- BrdPics: Winter Water
- 10,000 Birds: Photo-essay - Green-rumped Parrotlets: from egg to adult
- Mike's Birding & Digiscoping Blog: White-winged Crossbills!
- New Jersey's Natural Lands Trust is due to make a decision about what to do with Petty's Island today.
- After the removal of cats from Macquerie Island, the rabbit population boomed, causing even more ecological destruction. So now the Australian government plans to attempt eradicating introduced rabbits, cats, and mice fro the island as well.
- A recent poll shows that about half of Americans have taken steps to increase their energy efficiency and some want to do more.
- Yesterday the Senate passed the Omnibus Public Lands Act.
- An environmentalist disrupted a lease
giveawayauction by entering bids and thus forcing the oil and gas companies to pay market prices for the contracts. He won bids to drill on 22,000 acres. - The Great Lakes were about 20 meters lower in response to a dry climate 7500 years ago. A similar drop in water levels could occur in response to current climate changes.
- The Drinking Bird: Department of Bird-land Security, pt 1
- Bug Girl’s Blog: Cochineal: it’s a bug AND a feature!
- EnviroPolitics: Jackson promises to un-Bush the EPA
