Birds and birding news
- The winter finch forest for 2016 is now available. This forecast, prepared annually by Ron Pittaway, is based on the availability of seed crops across the boreal forest. Some birds to watch for in the northeastern US include Purple Finch, Red and White-winged Crossbills, Pine Siskin, and Red-breasted Nuthatch.
- After Hurricane Newton hit the western coast of Mexico, it deposited seabirds in the Arizona desert.
- Female Superb Lyrebirds can imitate the vocalizations of at least 19 other bird species.
- The US Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed listing the 'I'iwi as a threatened species. Comments on the listing may be submitted here.
- That is a step in the right direction since the outlook for endemic Hawaiian birds is pretty dire.
- Polls show strong majority support for regulatory changes that would make the energy industry more accountable for bird deaths.
- Four new parasitic mite species have been found in the feathers of ibises and spoonbills.
- The Scripps's Murrelet and Guadalupe Murrelet will be removed as candidates for Endangered Species Act protection since the islands where they breed have been restored and cleared of invasive predators.
- A recent report found that North American bird populations have shrunk by roughly 1.5 billion birds since 1970.
- Publicly owned lands (on the federal, state, and local levels) provide the best opportunities for birdwatching. Here is an explanation of the many different categories of public lands.
- New Zealand's Keas are threatened by non-native predators, lead poisoning, and persecution by humans.
- Keeping birdbaths clean is important for preventing the spread of disease, both among birds and from mosquitos to humans.
- Thousands of birds and other wildlife are killed each year by the USDA's Wildlife Services, with little accountability to the public.
- Warm temperatures have allowed Caspian Terns to nest 1,000 miles farther north than previously recorded.
Science and nature blogging
Environment and biodiversity