Loose Feathers #592

Rufous Hummingbird on its nest at Glacier NP / Photo by Jacob W. Frank/NPS

Birds and birding news

• This week is National Park Week, and many national parks are great birding locations. Here are the top 25 national parks for bird diversity and a full ranking by birds recorded.
• A study of stable isotopes in feathers of ducks collected by hunters suggests that boreal wetlands are vital to the health of North American waterfowl populations.
• Ecologists are studying whether birds like the Barnacle Goose can adjust their migration schedules to match the advance of climate change.
• Birding by ear is a useful tool for finding and identifying birds. Here is an explanation of the different types of vocalizations birds make.
• Eastern Wood-Pewees sing shorter songs in response to traffic noise in the Washington DC area.
• Duet dancing is more important than male singing for the Java Sparrow's courtship process.
• Noah Strycker discusses his birding experiences in an interview.
• Some researchers are encouraging the adoption of shade coffee farming practices in Colombia.
• The 2016 Garden Birdwatch recorded high numbers of thrushes compared to previous years.
• The New Jersey Bird Records Committee published its spring list updates (pdf).

Science and nature blogging

• The Meadowlands Nature Blog: Don Torino’s Life in the Meadowlands: Earth Day 2017
• The Birdist: Mississippi Big Day Attempt -- Monday April 24
• Ornithologi.com: Published in the Wilson Journal of Ornithology: First record in birds of nestling relocation following nest collapse  
• 10,000 Birds: A Baja Endemic, the Gray Thrasher 
• Corner of the Cabinet: Invertebrate of the Week #20 – Motyxia millipedes (Motyxia sequoia)
• Feathered Photography: A Strange Common Nighthawk Behavior
• Backyard and Beyond: Bubulcus ibis ibis
• Cicada Mania: How do cicadas make sounds / noise

Environment and biodiversity

• The EPA may be more vulnerable to attack under Trump than previous Republican presidents because of right-wing control of the government and because the agency's successes have made environmental issues seem less pressing for the public.
• Antarctica's remoteness gives it some protection from ecological degradation, but still faces threats from climate change, pollution, and overuse of natural resources. 
• The laws governing water rights in many western states need updating to take account of current and future environmental needs.
• Here is a gallery of insects carrying milkweed pollinia.
• Biologists expect additional wolf packs to form in western and southern Oregon.