Articles tagged with Wild Birds
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
A study from the University of East Anglia found that environmental impact assessments often fail to account for species movement between sites, leading to underestimated impacts on wildlife. The research highlights a planned airport development in Portugal that could affect over 10 times the number of Black-tailed Godwits estimated by...
Two new species of poisonous birds have been discovered in New Guinea's rainforest, containing a neurotoxin similar to that found in South American poison dart frogs. Genetic changes in these bird species allow them to tolerate and store the toxin in their feathers, potentially serving as a defensive mechanism.
Researchers found that corridors with abundant mature trees and deadwood help pileated woodpeckers adjust to urban landscape fragmentation. The Little Miami River corridor is one of the best places for these birds in Hamilton County, Ohio.
Researchers developed an AI tool called SILIC to identify 169 species, including 137 birds, from bird sounds in Yushan National Park. The dataset provides detailed acoustic activity patterns of wildlife across short and long temporal scales.
Researchers found that hummingbirds can enter into deep or shallow torpor, and their ability to do so is tied to their evolutionary conquest of mountain habitats. Torpor duration varies depending on ambient temperature and physical condition.
A new study reveals that whooper swans thrive in UK nature reserves, with survival rates significantly higher and population growth up to 6% annually. This could lead to a doubling of the species' wintering population in the UK by 2030.
A study published in Current Biology reports that Arctic geese have formed a new migration route and breeding area in response to climate change. The population has grown rapidly due to successful breeding, high survival rates, and social learning, with over 4,000 individuals now inhabiting the new location.
Researchers found that seabird species have unique wind tolerance strategies, with some flying fast to counteract wind drift. Albatrosses can fly in most storm conditions, while tropical species use special avoidance tactics.
A new study found neutralizing antibodies to TOSV and SFSV in wild quail birds, suggesting they could be the unknown reservoir of these viruses. The viruses are mosquito-borne pathogens that can infect domestic animals and cause disease in humans, with symptoms including fever, headache, and neurological signs.