Bird Populations Are in Meltdown
Humans rely on birds to eat insects, spread seeds, and pollinate plants—but these feathered friends can’t survive without their habitats......»»
Developing bird migration tracking with call detection technology
A research team primarily based at New York University (NYU) has achieved a breakthrough in ornithology and artificial intelligence by developing an end-to-end system to detect and identify the subtle nocturnal calls of migrating birds......»»
Bird flu reaches cows in California, the country’s largest milk producer
The highly pathogenic strain has now spread to 197 herds in 14 states. Enlarge / A cow grazes in a field at a dairy farm on April 26, 2024, in Petaluma, California. (credit: Getty | Justin Sullivan) The outbreak of H5N1.....»»
Hawk defies expectations in the face of habitat decline
Ferruginous Hawks (Buteo regalis) that spend their winters in California seem to be going up in number, yet their preferred grassland habitat has been declining for over 20 years. Most other grassland bird species are, sadly, doing the expected: plum.....»»
Researchers say 40% of UK seabird species are in trouble—bird flu, climate change, overfishing to blame
A visit to a seabird colony in summer is an assault on the senses. First there's the noise, then the overwhelming ammonia smell that stains the memory, and then the swirl of color and activity on the white-washed cliffs......»»
From wild relatives to super tomatoes: Unearthing new genetic potential
Tomato breeding has historically depended on a narrow genetic pool, leading to decreased diversity and loss of valuable traits. Traditional methods and biparental populations fall short in harnessing the full potential of wild relatives, posing chall.....»»
Investigation reveals global fisheries are in far worse shape than we thought—and many have already collapsed
When fish are taken from our oceans faster than they can reproduce, their population numbers decline. This over-fishing upsets marine ecosystems. It's also bad for human populations that rely on fish for protein in their diets......»»
Hunt for rare bird shows how Ecuador narco violence impedes research
Biologist Cesar Garzon was searching for a small, endangered parakeet in southern Ecuador when he was warned he may be kidnapped, highlighting the danger for scientists in the biodiverse country engulfed in narco violence......»»
Toy Inventor’s Notebook: Weather Bird
Make a science toy that can forecast the weather. The post Toy Inventor’s Notebook: Weather Bird appeared first on Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers......»»
This bird species was extinct in Europe. Now it"s back, and humans must help it migrate for winter
How do you teach a bird how, and where, to fly? The distinctive Northern Bald Ibis, hunted essentially to extinction by the 17th century, was revived by breeding and rewilding efforts over the last two decades. But the birds—known for their distinc.....»»
Bird species are disappearing at an alarming rate in Kenya, study finds
Sub-Saharan Africa has a vast amount of uncultivated, arable land—about 2 million km2, accounting for about 50% of the global total. This land is a critical habitat for many animal species, including birds......»»
USDA efforts to solve the bird flu outbreak in cows are taking center stage in central Iowa
At first glance, it looks like an unassuming farm. Cows are scattered across fenced-in fields. A milking barn sits in the distance with a tractor parked alongside. But the people who work there are not farmers, and other buildings look more like what.....»»
"Amazon" algae shed light on what happens to populations when females switch to asexual reproduction
Researchers at Max Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen and Kobe University discovered populations of female brown algae that reproduce from unfertilized gametes and thrive without males. In a study published in Nature Ecology & Evolution, they use.....»»
New insights on how bird flu crosses the species barrier
In recent years, public health measures, surveillance, and vaccination have helped bring about significant progress in reducing the impact of seasonal flu epidemics, caused by human influenza viruses A and B. However, a possible outbreak of avian inf.....»»
Saturday Citations: Citizen scientists observe fast thing; controlling rat populations; clearing nanoplastic from water
Good morning! Here are a few of this week's most interesting science stories to read while you're settling into the couch with your cup of General Foods International French Vanilla Cafe......»»
Review of 400 years of scientific literature corrects the Dodo extinction record
Researchers are setting out to challenge our misconceptions about the Dodo, one of the most well-known but poorly understood species of bird......»»
Rural migration tied to land use and climate change need more attention, scientists say
Climate and other environmental changes sometimes drive people to migrate, especially if the land no longer supports a population's way of life. In turn, mobile populations alter the environment in which they settle......»»
New research shows agricultural impacts on soil microbiome and fungal communities
New research from Smithsonian's Bird Friendly Coffee program highlights a type of biodiversity that often gets overlooked: soil bacteria and fungal communities. For over twenty years, Smithsonian research has shown that coffee farms with shade trees.....»»
Sonos laying off 6% of employees ‘for long-term success’
Sonos announced layoffs of about 100 employees as the company weathers a continued software meltdown, and a major loss of revenue because of it......»»
New genetic editing technique can modify wild populations with less risk
A new technique developed by researchers from Macquarie University and the California Institute of Technology could allow scientists to more safely alter the genetic makeup of wild populations. The study is published in the journal Nature Communicati.....»»
Liked to death? The social media race for nature photos can trash ecosystems—or trigger rapid extinction
Have you ever liked or shared a social media post about nature? It could have been a photo of a rare orchid or an unusual bird. Or you might share a stunning photo of an "undiscovered" natural place......»»