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| California Spotted Owl (Photo by USFS Region 5) |
- A study released this week found that outdoor cats (both pet and feral) are the single largest source of human-related bird mortality, with between 1.4 and 3.7 billion birds killed by cats each year. (In addition, 6.9-20.7 billion mammals are killed by cats each year.) Pet cats that are allowed to roam outdoors unsupervised are part of the problem, and birds (and cats) are much safer if pet cats are kept indoors. Feral and semi-feral cats are bigger contributors, as trap-neuter-release programs have largely failed to keep the feral population in check or protect wildlife.
- In a series of tests on dead owls, scientists discovered how owls are able to turn their owls almost all the way around without damaging their vertebra or arteries. One reason is that owl vertebra have larger holes for blood vessels to pass through than humans or other birds, which provides some cushioning for the blood vessels. The arteries also have adaptations to prevent the flow of blood to the brain from getting cut off.
- A genetic analysis of Rock Pigeons found that most modern pigeon breeds descend from racing pigeons first domesticated in the Middle East over 5,000 years ago, but a few breeds come from birds domesticated in India. The Rock Pigeon is one of the few bird species to have its genome sequenced. The pigeon genome has 1.1 million base pairs of DNA and 17,300 genes. Here is a gallery of some of the more bizarre Rock Pigeon breeds.
- Another study suggests that homing pigeons use low frequency sounds to navigate, and changes in acoustics may explain instances of homing pigeons getting lost.
- Peruvian officials are considering a new conservation program for the Andean Condor that would include tighter restrictions on capturing or killing condors. Condors are often captured for use in Yawar festivals, in which a condor is made to ride on the back of a bull. While the birds are usually released afterwards, they often undergo such trauma that they die soon after.
- Vultures in Africa are facing similar problems to those in India, with a decline caused partly by ingesting veterinary drugs administered to livestock.
- The EPA is banning 12 rat and mouse poisons made by d-CON because they pose an unacceptable risk to humans and wildlife. Urban raptors are especially at risk because they often eat rats or mice that have ingested the poison.
- Seabirds in southwest England, particularly guillemots, have been washing ashore covered in a mysterious waxy substance.
- Culturing Science: Cats Are Ruthless Killers. Should They Be Killed?
- Not Exactly Rocket Science: Parasites Make Their Hosts Sociable So They Get Eaten
- SciAm Blog Network: The Last Thing the Squirrel Saw
- A Blog Around The Clock: Commenting threads: good, bad, or not at all.
- OnEarth Blog: City Birds Bring the Noise
- Rebecca in the Woods: a different snow fly
- Extinction Countdown: New Zealand Farmer Helps Save Rare Penguin from Extinction
- Bug Eric: Fly Day Friday: Greater Bee Fly
- Bird Ecology Study Group: Passage to India… Part 3.
- Birding Is Fun!: Bird Photography for Birders
- Bourbon, Bastards, and Birds: BB&B Presents: Lazy Birders And The Hybrid Theory
- Laelaps: Tiny, Feathery Dinosaur Raises Jurassic Questions
- Blue Marble: Butterflies Booking It North as Climate Warms
- Paleontologists are documenting ancient seabeds in the hope of figuring out just how high sea levels might rise based on current climate forecasts.
- Air travel for only about 5% of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions, but a disproportionately high amount per flight. So far attempts to cut back on emissions from air travel have met fierce resistance, and the US has banned its airlines from paying carbon taxes imposed on flights into Europe.
- A study refuted the idea that bark beetles are to blame for the increase in wildfires in lodgepole pine and spruce forests. Instead the catastrophic wildfires are dry conditions linked to climate change.
- A wolf trapper in Montana caught a mountain lion and then a National Park Service ranger. This incident is just one side effect of the ongoing slaughter of wolves in the northern Rockies.
- There is a movement to convert lawns into vegetable gardens, though these conversions often run afoul of local land use rules. Another use of the space that is better for wildlife conservation than lawns is to plant pollinator-friendly native plants. Speaking of which, if you are interested in helping bees, you can participate in the Xerces Society's Project Bumblebee.
- Ten Borneo pygmy elephants were found dead, probably the result of poisoning. The species is endangered, with probably fewer than 1,500 left in the world.
- Google is expanding its Street View to include popular hiking trails, starting with the Grand Canyon.
- Speaking of popular trails, Forsythe NWR has started repairing its Wildlife Drive.
- The Edison Town Council approved a land swap that will encroach further on the Dismal Swamp conservation area.
