Posts
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| American White Pelicans / Photo by Tom Koerner/USFWS |
- The 'I'iwi, one of Hawaii's endemic bird species, will be listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Threats include avian malaria (spread by invasive mosquitos), climate change, and a fungus that kills trees they depend on for food and nesting habitat.
- The 2017-2018 Winter Finch Forecast is now available. Most irruptive species are unlikely to migrate south of their usual wintering areas this winter due to excellent cone crops in the boreal forest.
- There are more free-flying California Condors than ever before, but their survival in the wild is still tenuous because of lead and mercury poisoning and other threats. Plans are underway for the start of a new free-flying population near the California-Oregon border.
- All 44 Snail Kite nests around Lake Okeechobee were destroyed by Hurricane Irma. The Snail Kite is an endangered species, and only 130 nests were reported this year in Florida, so the loss is substantial.
- The 230 captive endangered Puerto Rican Parrots at El Yunque National Forest survived Hurricane Irma in a secure room. No word yet on their status after Hurricane Maria.
- A captive breeding program is rebuilding the wild population of New Zealand's rarest kiwi species.
- Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in Maryland ended its Whooping Crane captive breeding program as a result of budget cuts.
- A reduction in the size of Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument would threaten habitat for Northern Spotted Owls.
- Social environment affects the phallus length in Lesser Scaup but apparently not among Ruddy Ducks.
- Barn Owls keep their hearing abilities as they age.
- Monk Parakeets have become an invasive species in Mexico thanks to changes in the pet trade.
- Tailings ponds at mining sites continue to pose a threat to birds despite safeguards.
- A survey of birdlife on New Britain showed one species worse and seven better than expected. The main threat to birds is palm oil production, which destroys their habitat.
- In colder months, flocks of Cedar Waxwings may appear in places with fruiting trees to devour the berries.
- Jessica Gorzo: Learning to Identify Birds by their Vocalizations
- Avian Hybrids: Two Crow Hybrid Zones for the Price of One!
- Cool Green Science: The Ocean Flyway: The Surprising Open Water Routes of Songbird Migrations
- Outside My Window: The Connecticut Warbler’s Amazing Migration
- ABA Blog: #MySantaAna Border Wall Update–Your Voice is Needed!
- awkward botany: Seagrass Meadows and Their Role in Healthy Marine Ecosystems
- Cicada Mania: Neotibicen linnei and canicularis compared
- Bird Ecology Study Group: Pectinate Claw – Large-tailed Nightjar
- wadertales: The not-so-Grey Plover
- Hurricane Maria will likely worsen existing environmental problems on Puerto Rico.
- This summer's hurricanes have been notable for their rapid intensification, something that is usually rare among storms. The causes for rapid intensification are not completely understood, but the unusually high ocean temperatures appear to be a contributing factor.
- Zinke's report on national monuments has been leaked and includes recommendations to shrink at least six (Bears Ears, Grand Staircase-Escalante, Gold Butte, Cascade-Siskiyou, Pacific Remote Islands, and Rose Atoll) while increasing resource exploitation of others. The targeted monuments include several areas with significant bird habitat. Continued uncertainty surrounding the report seems likely to reduce economic benefits that usually follow monument declarations. More background on the fight over national monuments is available here.
- The new EPA administrator's increased security detail has resulted in fewer agents available to investigate environmental crimes.
- Contrary to some reports, a recent paper did not conclude that climate models overestimated warming.
- American oaks share a common northern ancestor according to a genetic study.
- The IUCN lists six North American ash species as endangered because of the Emerald Ash Borer.
- Bristlecone pines are not shifting their range quickly enough to keep pace with climate change.
