Loose Feathers #331

Sandhill Cranes at Muleshoe NWR / Photo by Wyman Meinzer (USFWS)

News about birds and birding

• New Jersey revised its state endangered and threatened lists this week, and the changes included several birds and many dragonflies. Five species are newly-classified as endangered: Black Rail, Golden-winged Warbler, Red Knot, Indiana Bat, and Gray Petaltail. Nine species were named as threatened: American Kestrel, Cattle Egret, Horned Lark, Robust Baskettail, Banner Clubtail, Harpoon Clubtail, Kennedy's Emerald, Superb Jewelwing, and Brook Snaketail. In addition, several listings have been revised to reflect the species' improved fortunes. New Jersey's full endangered and threatened list can be viewed on the DEP website.
• An analysis of user-submitted data from the eBird database indicates that birds have been migrating earlier in the season in response to warmer temperatures. 
• King Penguins on Macquarie Island have recovered sufficiently to regain the level of genetic diversity they had before their population crashed. In 1919, the King Penguin population was down to only 4,000 birds after 3 million of them were boiled to produce lamp oil.
• Here is a gallery of extinct birds and how they met their fates.
• Volunteer patrols make a major difference in keeping people out of protected areas on beaches.
• Northern Rough-winged Swallows are wintering at a sewage plant in Northeast Philadelphia and have been doing so for several years.
• The American Bird Conservancy proposes using its adhesive tape to prevent bird collisions with large windows.

Nature blogging

• Not Exactly Rocket Science: Flowers regenerated from 30,000-year-old frozen fruits, buried by ancient squirrels 
• Sibley Guides: Rough-legged vs. Red-tailed?
• Birdchick: Digiscoping With An iPhone Tutorial
• The Birdist: How To Find A New State Record
• Outside My Window: Winter Trees: Hophornbeam or Ironwood
• Compound Eye: The Fly That Banks On Arachnophobia
• Shorebirder: Shoot first, ask questions later??
• The Dragonfly Woman: The Purpose of Caddisfly Case Extensions: A Case Study 
• Beetles in the Bush: Tiger beetles in southeast Missouri 
• Nemesis Bird: The American Kestrel story
• Extinction Countdown: Extinction Looms for Rare Frog Species, Now Down to 1 Individual
• Safari Ecology: Why the hornbill shuts its nest
• Laelaps: The Oldest Toothache

Environment and biodiversity

• A recent study using satellite imagery determined that tree cover in decline in most major U.S. cities. The only exception among the 20 cities the study surveyed was Syracuse, New York.
• The town of Dryden, New York, won a civil suit to preserve its ban on hydrofracking within its borders.
• The UK Ministry of Defence is releasing some of the environmental data collected by its submarines to scientists to assist in climate research.
• Scientists discovered a new species of legless amphibians called caecilians in India. These amphibians look somewhat like oversized earthworms.
• Amazon Japan agreed to stop selling whale meat through its website.
• A wireless solar charger at bus stops could help keep electric buses charged (although I wonder if it might be better just to mount each bus with its own solar panels).
• Scientists discovered a new species of insect that appears to be the deepest-dwelling animal ever found. The insect has no eyes or wings and feeds on fungi and decomposing organic matter.
• Monday was the 110th birthday of Ansel Adams, the nature photographer and conservationist. The link leads to a gallery of some of his images. Another 220 can be viewed via a Flickr set curated by the U.S. National Archives.
• Amphibian Ark is suggesting that we celebrate frogs on leap day, February 29.