Articles tagged with Birds Of Prey
Research from the University of California - Davis recommends cleaning nest boxes in fall months to avoid disturbing American barn owl breeding pairs. Land managers can install nest box networks to attract barn owls and benefit agricultural operations by controlling pests.
A study led by Flinders University reveals that Australia's Letter-winged kite may not have enhanced vision for nighttime hunting as previously thought. The research found similar eye dimensions to its daytime-hunting relatives, contradicting decades of speculation about the kite's visual system.
A groundbreaking study has revealed widespread and frequent lead poisoning in North American bald and golden eagles, affecting both species' populations. Lead exposure is causing population growth rates to slow for bald eagles by 3.8 percent annually.
A 63-bone fossil discovery of Archaehierax sylvestris, a 25-million-year-old eagle-like raptor, has been made in South Australia. The species is one of the oldest eagle fossils known from this period and provides insight into raptor evolution in Australia.
Since 2009, three local conservation NGOs have worked with international support to reintroduce Griffon Vultures to their former breeding range in Bulgaria. As of December 2020, over 80 individuals have been recorded, including successful breeding pairs and fledged chicks.
A new five-step protocol aims to reduce mortality of threatened birds of prey due to accidents with infrastructures. The protocol identifies sink populations, frequented areas, and high-risk infrastructure features to improve conservation actions.
A new UCF study found microplastics in the digestive systems of 63 birds of prey in Florida, including hawks, ospreys, and owls. The researchers discovered nearly 1,200 pieces of plastic, mostly microfibers, which can lead to poisoning, starvation, and death.
Peregrine falcons have the fastest vision among birds of prey, registering up to 129 Hz blinks per second for high-light conditions. This exceptional visual acuity allows them to track fast-moving prey like flying birds and small mammals.
A recent study published in Journal of Experimental Biology shows that translocated Latvian lesser spotted eagle chicks are capable of returning successfully to Germany, with only small numbers dying during the migration. This breakthrough offers hope for rescuing the declining German population.
A new study found that birds of prey interact more with scented packages than unscented ones, suggesting they associate the scent of peppermint oil with food. This method can be used to encourage species-specific feeding behaviors in zoos.
Researchers found that raptors' skulls change shape predictably with species size, linking beak and skull shapes. This constraint may limit the evolutionary flexibility of birds of prey.
A recent comparative genomic study found that specific olfactory receptor genes correlate with ecological niches and behaviors in birds. Specialized skills, such as those in birds of prey or aquatic birds, were mirrored by genetic diversity of their OR gene families.
Researchers analyzed predator-prey interactions among carnivorous mammals and birds of prey to explain the evolution of antipredator traits. They found that noxious spraying is favored by nocturnal animals, while sociality is favored by diurnal species.
New research reveals that cuckoos employ 'Batesian mimicry' by mimicking local bird of prey species with striped feathers, allowing them to frighten hosts into leaving their nests exposed. A wide range of cuckoo species have adapted different plumage patterns depending on their geographical location.
A newly discovered fossil species of scops owl found in Madeira reveals that its extinction was linked to human arrival and habitat destruction. The findings suggest that human introduction led to disease transmission, invasive species, and habitat loss, contributing to the bird's demise.
A new study reveals that American kestrels and other raptorial birds are more sensitive to the rodenticide diphacinone than previously thought. Birds ingesting high doses can die within days, while those consuming lower amounts survive with minimal harm.
Researchers tracked the migration of 11 Eleonora's falcons, discovering they cross the Sahara Desert and Equator during day and night. The birds fly over 9,500km from Balearic Islands to Madagascar before returning to Europe via a different route.
Researchers at McMaster University have used ancient DNA to study the evolution of the Haast's eagle, a giant bird that once ruled New Zealand. The study found that the species is related to one of the world's smallest eagles, with an estimated common ancestor living less than a million years ago.