A comprehensive analysis of over 200 scientific articles reveals the fundamental importance of scavengers and carrion in wetlands, benefiting soil, plants, birds, and mammals. The study highlights five different functions performed by scavengers during carrion consumption, including nutrient recycling and pathogen control.
Fruit eating birds play a vital role in forest ecosystems by consuming, excreting, and spreading seeds to allow trees to grow and function. The study found that highly fragmented landscapes restrict bird movement, reducing carbon recovery potential by up to 38 percent.
A new study using machine learning reveals that great gray owls congregate near human-made structures, contrary to previous assumptions. The research used artificial intelligence modeling and large datasets to identify suitable habitats for the owl, providing a more accurate representation of its distribution.
Chickadees have unique neural barcodes that represent individual memories of caching food, which are distinct from place cells that trigger location-based responses. This discovery sheds light on how episodic memories are encoded in the brain and may have implications for understanding memory formation and storage.
Researchers at the University of Tokyo discovered that Japanese tit birds use wing movements as a symbolic gesture to communicate with their mates, mirroring human-like behavior. The study found that the birds' wing-fluttering display prompted the mate to enter the nest box first, while the one who fluttered entered second.
A University of Illinois team found tropical birds can handle thermal variation, disproving the climate variability hypothesis. The study, which measured metabolic rates across a range of temperatures, suggests that birds in the Neotropics may be more resilient to warming than previously thought.
A study by researchers at the University of Wyoming and Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior found that migrating animals refine their behavior with age, suggesting experiential learning plays a crucial role in successful migration. As young birds explore new places during migration, they gradually adopt more direct routes, resultin...
A study found that the avian influenza virus H5N1 has adapted to spread between birds and marine mammals, with nearly identical genome sequences detected in four sea lions, one fur seal, and a tern. The virus's ability to infect birds remains unchanged, while its transmission among marine mammals is concerning.
The tawny owl's pale grey plumage is linked to crucial functions aiding survival in cold environments, including energy homeostasis and fat deposition. Genetic analysis reveals a 70-100% accuracy in predicting grey coloration through specific genetic variants.
Fishing cats were observed raiding bird nests in tall trees for the first time, providing a rare and unusual behavior that sheds light on their ecology. This unexpected finding may help piece together the ecology of these elusive felines and contribute to conservation efforts.
Researchers found that individual Balearic shearwaters are adapting to climate change by shifting their migratory range northwards, with a speed of 25km per year. However, this flexibility comes with constraints, as the birds have further to fly back in the autumn, and the impact on breeding success and survival is still unclear.
The Mount Sinai Hospital has received a $1.3 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to expand its New York City Virus Hunters program. The program engages high school students in virus surveillance and mapping, tracking circulating avian influenza and paramyxoviruses in wild birds.
In parts of Africa, humans communicate with greater honeyguides to locate bee colonies, sharing knowledge about the location of nests. The bird benefits by eating leftover honeycomb, while people gain access to honey and beeswax. Researchers found that honeyguides learn distinct vocal signals used by different honey-hunting communities.
Researchers found that honeyguides in Tanzania and Mozambique discriminate among human calls, responding more readily to local than foreign calls. This complex communication system benefits both species by increasing their chances of accessing calorie-dense honey and beeswax.
Researchers found that Eurasian jays settle for less preferred food options when rivals are present, while New Caledonian crows consistently choose the better, delayed reward. The study suggests that species' social tolerance and competition levels influence self-control in animals.
A team of researchers led by Virginia Tech's Ashley Dayer is conducting the first large-scale bird feeding study that also incorporates observing humans. The project aims to engage over 10,000 bird feeders across the US and gather insights into how human well-being is impacted by regularly feeding birds.
A study found that artificial light is a top indicator of where birds will land, leading to ecological traps and collisions. Urban parks can provide decent stopover sites, but competition over limited resources poses a significant risk to migrating birds.
A recent study found that flocks of birds in North America, Europe, and Asia responded equally strongly to the alarm call of an unfamiliar dusky-throated antshrike. This suggests that sentinel calls may contain a universal signal that allows birds to recognize them across different species and continents.
Researchers discovered ancient bird-like footprints in Southern Africa that date back over 210 million years, 60 million years before the earliest known bird fossil. The tracks were found at multiple sites and show a mix of dinosaur and bird-like characteristics.
A new deep learning AI tool called ECOGEN has been developed to generate lifelike bird sounds, enhancing the samples of underrepresented species. This allows for improved bird song classification accuracy and contributes to the conservation of endangered bird species.
A study of house finches found that sick birds are more social than healthy ones, preferring to eat with their flock. This behavior may be driven by the benefits of group living for sick birds, but also poses a risk to healthy birds due to increased disease transmission.
Researchers developed a detection method for infectious bird flu virus in wetlands frequented by waterfowl. The method successfully detected HPAI virus strains in four out of four wetland sites in April, but not from a lake, highlighting the need for improved RNA detection techniques.
Researchers tracked endangered thick-billed parrots using solar-powered satellite transmitters, revealing new critical habitat and migratory routes. Less than 20% of the newly identified habitat is protected from timber industry, highlighting the urgent need for conservation efforts.
Researchers investigating sihek health have found that female birds are at greater risk for death and disease than males. The study also highlights reproductive diseases as a major threat to the species' survival, with females succumbing to these diseases more frequently.
Researchers discovered that monk parakeets possess a unique tone of voice, known as a voice print, similar to humans. This finding raises the possibility that other vocally flexible species may also have a voice print.
A study published in PLOS Biology identifies key genetic loci that distinguish Penstemon species with flowers adapted to different pollinators. The research reveals surprisingly few genetic differences between species with different pollination syndromes, suggesting strong selection to maintain flower traits.
A Texas A&M research team found that a population of endangered red-crowned parrots is thriving in urban areas, with four main roosts in the Rio Grande Valley. The parrots' adaptability to human environments and lack of competition for food sources make them an unusual example of a species doing well in urban areas.
Research shows that lapwings can hide their eggs by using small variations in the terrain, making them invisible to ground predators. The study found that habitat geometry rather than visual acuity limits the visibility of a ground-nesting bird's clutch to terrestrial predators.
A recent UTSA study reveals that 51% of Texas owls have high levels of anticoagulant rodenticides in their systems. The research team recommends using natural methods to control rodents and increasing awareness of the effects on non-target wildlife.
A new study by Lund University reveals that disease affects blackbirds for three weeks, rather than just a day or two. The simulated bacterial infection stimulates the birds' immune system, causing them to stop their activities earlier in the evenings and have reduced daily activity periods.
Research finds that smaller farms with varied crop types and forest patches support many bird species typically found in forests, even as populations decline in forests. Diversified farming can be crucial for preserving biodiversity and its benefits, including ecosystem services such as pest control and pollination.
Researchers have discovered fossils of ravens living alongside early humans in Beijing, dating back over 100,000 years. The findings suggest that ravens were resilient to climate change and provide valuable insights into the impact of environmental changes on bird populations.
Researchers found that birds allowed people to get much closer than expected, with an average distance of just 39 inches, suggesting a significant decrease in fear response. The study's findings challenge existing theories on bird behavior and may offer hope for North American bird populations threatened by human disturbances.
City-living male song sparrows exhibit increased parental care and reduced nest predation rates, contradicting the notion that urbanization leads to decreased parental investment. Urban males also begin feeding nestlings earlier in the day, indicating a more attentive parenting style.
Scientists at Michigan State University used big data to study bird coexistence in the Albertine Rift ecosystem. They found that birds partition their habitat use along environmental gradients and adopt different strategies to survive, allowing them to coexist without driving each other to extinction.
A new study by North Carolina State University researchers found that artificial light at night links with lower survival for two backyard bird species, the gray catbird and house wren. The study used data from a citizen-science program to investigate how light pollution affects birds' survival rates.
A new study has found a much smaller range of suitable habitat for the grey-necked rockfowl, a critically endangered African bird species, in Central Africa. The research suggests that changing the species' IUCN conservation status to Vulnerable could help prevent further land use damage.
Researchers found a significant increase in global bird feeding interest during COVID-19 lockdowns, with dramatic increases in search terms like 'bird feeder' and 'bird food' across 115 countries. The study suggests that this trend may have implications for avian communities, migration patterns, and biodiversity.
A study published in PLOS ONE found a significant surge in bird feeding interest worldwide during the pandemic, with countries having higher bird diversity exhibiting more Google search activity. The researchers analyzed data from 115 countries and found an average increase of 511 bird species in countries with higher search interest.
Researchers at the University of Copenhagen used a new method to collect airborne DNA particles and found evidence of 64 different animal species in a single football field-sized area. The findings suggest that this technique could be a valuable tool for monitoring biodiversity and tracking the spread of diseases.
Researchers developed a novel method combining satellite imagery and bioacoustic data to monitor bird species on cropfields, finding larger habitat areas and greater variety in texture are associated with more bird species overall. However, grassland birds relying solely on the habitat for their life cycle seem to benefit less.
A recent study by Tufts Wildlife Clinic found that approximately 30% of hawks and owls were positive for exposure to neurotoxic rodenticide bromethalin. This discovery expands upon the previous research on anticoagulant rodenticides, which showed that all red-tailed hawks tested were positive for ARs.
The AOS released its 64th Supplement to the Check-list of North American Birds, including species lumps for the Western Flycatcher and Caribbean birds, as well as a species split for the Northern Goshawk. Five additional bird species were recognized in the Caribbean due to revised classification.
Researchers used coastal surveys from 1993-2021 to find a dramatic delayed effect of warmer oceans on seabird mortality. Massive die-offs occurred roughly once per decade, with five events exceeding a quarter million birds between 2014 and 2019.
UK schoolchildren aged 7-11 drew mammals and birds most commonly, with reptiles and amphibians appearing less frequently. The study suggests children's perceptions of local wildlife are skewed towards mammals and birds, hinting at a wider problem of nature disconnect.
Research shows that wild birds in vineyards are highly susceptible to triazole fungicide contamination, disrupting hormones and metabolism, impacting reproduction and survival. Vineyards use significantly more fungicides than other crops, posing a unique threat to bird populations.
Researchers found that precise repetition of song notes is key to attracting a female mate, while changing songs prevents habituation. A balance between consistency and diversity in birdsong may resolve the paradox of variability in singing styles.
Researchers found that two-thirds of European bird species shifted northeastward by an average of 100km over the past 30 years, with coastal communities facing extinction. Mountain ranges also controlled bird migrations, preventing some species from adapting to changing temperatures.
A nine-year experimental study found that mowing and herbicide application did not benefit sage grouse populations in central Wyoming. In fact, reducing Wyoming big sagebrush cover may negatively impact the birds' food sources and nesting sites.
A new study by University of California, Berkeley biologist Robert Dudley found that hummingbirds happily sip from sugar water with up to 1% alcohol by volume, without being repelled by it. The research suggests that birds are likely consuming ethanol produced by natural fermentation in flowers and nectar-filled feeders.
Scientists at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital discovered how the current H5N1 avian influenza virus gained new genes and greater virulence as it spread across North America. The researchers found that the virus could severely infect the brains of mammalian research models, a notable departure from previous related strains.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control highlights the rapid spread of avian influenza viruses worldwide, affecting wild bird populations and mammals. The authors warn that human infections with A(H5N1) can be severe and increase the risk of reassortment with mammalian viruses.
Bird and bat deaths at US wind turbines surge during seasonal migrations, with most species affected in the prairies and plains. The study's findings suggest adjusting curtailment requirements to protect sensitive bird and bat species.
SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMay 10, 2023
A study found that establishing fallow land can increase the populations of farmland birds and improve biodiversity. The benefits depend on landscape complexity, particularly in regions with a moderate density of boundary lines between fields and woody structures.
George Mason University researchers have identified key methods for successfully reintroducing captive birds into the wild, including exposing animals to wild food and providing supplemental feeding after release. Their study provides evidence-based support for exploring the use of behavior and its management as an influential tool in ...
A highly pathogenic bird flu, H5N1, is spreading rapidly in the US, decimating wild birds and impacting poultry, with egg prices soaring. The study's findings highlight the need for unprecedented coordination to manage the spread of the disease, which may become endemic, posing risks to food security and the economy.
Research from Lund University shows that feeding small birds during winter reduces the need to lower body temperature, allowing them to fight infections more effectively. This study highlights the importance of access to food during winter in modulating a bird's immune response and ability to combat infection.
Researchers studied H7N9 epidemic waves in China from 2013 to 2017, analyzing gene sequences to build phylogenetic trees. They found the virus likely circulated in poultry for months before being detected, and suggest continuous monitoring of animal health is crucial
SourceETH Zurich·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateApr 17, 2023
Researchers found that endotherms have well-developed turbinates and larger nasal cavities than ectotherms, helping to cool their brains. This discovery sheds light on the evolution of nasal cooling in warm-blooded animals from their theropod dinosaur ancestors.
Researchers found that 89% of Dominica's trees sustained damage from Hurricane Maria, but only 10% were immediately killed. The study suggests that forests in hurricane-prone regions can resist extreme weather events due to their adapted structure and composition.