Loose Feathers #473

Whooping Cranes follow ultralights leaving Alabama / Photo by Heather Ray, Operation Migration

Birds and birding news

• A new evaluation of bird evolution based on whole-genome analysis is underway with the publication of 29 papers. Among other findings, the clade Neoaves (most modern birds except ratites, waterfowl, and gamebirds) diversified rapidly within a few million years after dinosaurs went extinct, waterbirds evolved in three different groups, and vocal learning may have evolved multiple times. See also this article summarizing the results, and this article, which has a revised family tree.
• A related study found based on genetic evidence that birds lost their teeth about 116 million years ago, during the Cretaceous.
• Amendments proposed as part of the current budget bill would gut funding for conserving threatened sage-grouse populations.
• The Red Knot will be listed as threatened sometime next week.
• Collecting has become controversial even as museum collections retain value for studying birds and especially insects.
• The Salton Sea in California is important habitat for birds and other wildlife, particularly during migration.
• EBird has a new portal for the Pacific Northwest.

Science and nature blogging

• Laura's Birding Blog: More about Bird Tongues than a Normal Person Would Want to Know
• ABA Blog: Open Mic: The Deal with Alpha-Codes, part 1 (part 2)
• Birding Dude: In search for Cackling Geese at Van Cortlandt Park Bronx, NY 
• Sibley Guides: Cackling-ish Geese
• 10,000 Birds: The Biggest Pygmy Cormorant Roost in the World
• Zoologger: The bird that mimics a toxic caterpillar
• The Birdist: Ranking the Bird Beers
• this ain't livin': What If We Lose Half Our Birds?
• Significant Figures: The Growing Influence of Climate Change on the California Drought
• The Bruce Mactavish Newfoundland Birding Blog: Townsend's Warbler # 19. They Keep On Happening - Why!?

Environment and biodiversity

• Methane leaks from natural gas operations remain a major problem that the EPA needs to address.
• Hydropower in the Amazon may not be as sustainable as people think.
• The border wall is destroying wildlife habitat and preventing mammals from crossing the border for migration or foraging.
• Environmental activists in South America face violence and harassment, including murders.
• Preservation of natural areas has a close relationship with maintaining drinking water quality for large cities like Boston and New York.
• New Jersey's legislature is working on a bill to force companies to pay more for building pipelines and the like across public lands.
• The Freedom Tower is unlikely to meet its green energy goals since its fuel cells were destroyed by Hurricane Sandy and have not been replaced.