Posts
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| Snowy Owl near Cypress Creek NWR / Credit: John Schwegman/USFWS |
- New fossil evidence suggests that the Hoatzin, an unusual bird found only in South America, originated in the Old World and probably rafted to the Americas from Africa.
- The AOU posted the proposals for changes for North American checklist (pdf).
- Contrary to popular belief, birds do not sleep in their nests. Instead, they find suitable sleeping locations that provide warmth and safety.
- Because of the loss of sea ice, many polar bears are turning from eating Ringed Seal pups to eating more Snow Geese and plants.
- It seems that Snowy Owls are turning up everywhere this winter, even McPherson Square in Washington, DC. (See also DCist and The Birdist.)
- Speaking of Snowy Owls, one in Delaware was observed eating from a dolphin carcass. The same owl may have been captured and banded.
- At least 20 Snowy Owls have been sighted in New Jersey this winter.
- Here is an account of seeing a kiwi and other birds at a New Zealand bird sanctuary.
- A trail cam caught two Bald Eagles fighting over a dead horse.
- Woodpeckers in Illinois have been eating invasive emerald ash borers, which hopefully will help slow their spread. This winter's extreme cold should help as well.
- Kirtland's Warblers were observed wintering on San Salvador Island for the first time.
- Finally, this video includes the voices of all North American loons.
- ABA Blog: Taking Pictures in Cold Weather
- Not Exactly Rocket Science: Can Moths Explain Why Sloths Poo On the Ground?
- Anything Larus: Heermann's Gull Kleptoparasitizes Common Raven
- 10,000 Birds: What we talk about when we talk about reputation
- Bird Ecology Study Group: Brown-throated Sunbird and Costus spicatus flowers
- Beetles in the Bush: Pop! goes the beetle
- Bug Eric: Wasp Wednesday: Pseudodynerus quadrisectus
- Nemesis Bird: Phone Skope Big Year 2014
- A record 1,004 black rhinos were killed in South Africa in 2013. Poaching is on the rise despite South Africa's best attempts to stop it.
- A reality show on the Animal Planet regularly features unethical treatment of captive wildlife.
- Last year was a historically bad year for oil spills from train accidents, but pipelines spilled almost as much oil. Most of the spills are linked to the recent oil boom in North Dakota and Alberta.
- This year is off to a bad start in that regard, as a train carrying oil derailed on a Schuylkill River bridge. However, no oil was reported spilled in that accident.
- Last year was 1.12°F above historical norms, making it the fourth-warmest year on record by one measure.
- While central and eastern North America are stuck in a deep freeze, Australia is enduring one of its hottest summers ever.
- Some hunters believe that the government and insurance companies conspired to introduce coyotes to the eastern United States to control the deer population.
- A new species of river dolphin was discovered in Brazil.
- A new frog species was found on Vietnam’s Mount Fansipan.
- Hamilton Township is cataloguing its vernal pools for protection from development.
- Because California has been so warm this winter, bears in the Sierra Nevada are awake and active.
- The chemical spill in West Virginia included a chemical that was not originally reported. What is even more disturbing is how little toxicity data there is for the reported chemical.
- Essex County (NJ) is scaling back its deer hunt this year, and conservationists are disappointed.
- The D&R Greenway preserved its 253rd property.
