How Do Birds Know When to Migrate?
Lengthening days set off a cascade of events in migratory birds that culminates in the birth of a clutch of chicks.....»»
Proper management of nitrogen and irrigation shown to increase yields and reduce leaching
Imagine a hot and dry summer day, it might have been dry and hot for a long time. The birds are singing and the irrigation machines in the fields are running at full speed. But what does irrigating crops really mean for farmers' yields and how does i.....»»
Escaped pet parrots threaten New Zealand"s vulnerable native birds—why a ban may be the best solution
Birds sold in the pet trade are often colorful and charismatic creatures. Some can even be taught to talk, and they often provide owners with much-needed companionship......»»
No spread of H5N1 bird flu between mammals found
Mammals can become infected with the highly pathogenic (HPAI) avian influenza H5N1 virus when they feed on infected sick or dead wild birds. Studies by Wageningen Bioveterinary Research (WBVR) show that there is no spread of the virus between the mam.....»»
Polygamous birds shown to have fewer harmful mutations
Bird species that breed with several sexual partners have fewer harmful mutations, according to a study led by the Milner Centre for Evolution at the University of Bath. The study, published in Evolution, shows for the first time how polygamy increas.....»»
Actin found to affect the spread of cancer in several ways
Metastases occur when cancer cells leave a primary tumor and spread throughout the body. For this to happen, they have to break connections with neighboring cells and migrate to other tissues. Both processes are promoted by signaling molecules releas.....»»
Wanted (by scientists): Dead birds and bats, felled by renewables
Collecting, studying, and storing the carcasses, scientists say, can unlock new insights. Enlarge / A Red-Tailed Hawk takes off from an idle turbine blade in 2013. (credit: San Francisco Chronicle/Hearst Newspapers via Getty Imag.....»»
DNA from domesticated chickens is tainting genomes of wild red junglefowl, finds study
The red junglefowl—the wild ancestor of the chicken—is losing its genetic diversity by interbreeding with domesticated birds, according to a new study led by Frank Rheindt of the National University of Singapore published January 19 in the journa.....»»
Using cancer cells as logic gates to determine what makes them move
Cancer cells migrate through the body for multiple reasons; some are simply following the flow of a fluid, while others are actively following specific chemical trails. So how do you determine which cells are moving and why? Purdue University researc.....»»
Twitter says third-party apps broke “long-standing API rules,” won’t name rules
It's not much, but it's more than app developers have heard in nearly a week. Enlarge / Two birds are enforcing long-standing bird feeder access rules. That may result in some birds not eating. (credit: Tony Quinn / EyeEm / Getty.....»»
Study shows clever birds need caring parents
Brains are key organs because they make sense of the world and help us successfully navigate through our lives. While all animals have brains, some species have rather large brains relatively to their body size—and this is very beneficial. A large.....»»
Migrating birds: Disturbances in magnetic field suspected when birds go astray
It seems logical enough that bad weather can sometimes cause birds to become disoriented during their annual fall migrations—causing them to wind up in territory they're unaccustomed to. But why, even when weather is not a major factor, do birds tr.....»»
Study finds hummingbirds" hovering flight likely evolved because of a lost gene
Hummingbirds, native to North and South America, are among the smallest and most agile birds in the world. Often barely larger than a thumb, they are the only bird species that can fly not only forwards, but also backwards or sideways. Their characte.....»»
New map of "stopover hotspots" provides insights for conservation of eastern US migratory landbirds
Every autumn, billions of birds migrate across the eastern U.S. en route to their wintering sites. As the birds undertake their journeys, however, they are faced with increasing threats, including habitat loss, storms, feral cats and other predators,.....»»
Human actions created the Salton Sea, California"s largest lake. Here"s how to save its ecosystem
The Salton Sea spreads across a remote valley in California's lower Colorado Desert, 40 miles (65 kilometers) from the Mexican border. For birds migrating along the Pacific coast, it's an avian Grand Central Station. In midwinter tens of thousands of.....»»
Cayman Islands to cull feral cats to protect brown boobies
The Cayman Islands has announced it will start culling feral cats to help save a dwindling colony of brown booby birds......»»
Insects and spiders make up more than half NZ"s animal biodiversity—time to celebrate these spineless creatures
After almost two decades of championing native birds in an annual competition, Aotearoa is going to begin celebrating its spineless creatures this year......»»
Farmland bird populations rise with nature-friendly farming
In the latest Journal of Applied Ecology, researchers from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) say a more strategic approach to wildlife-friendly farming schemes is required to recover England's farmland bird populations after monito.....»»
How to feed your garden birds if you want to attract and support native species
As vegetation is removed to make way for urban development, wild species experience a dramatic loss of habitat, making it more difficult for city dwellers to interact with wildlife......»»
New study finds birds build hanging-nests to protect offspring from nest invaders
A new study has found that birds build hanging-nests, particularly those with extended entrance tunnels, to help protect offspring against nest invaders like snakes and parasitic cuckoos......»»
Opening the black box of bird-window collisions: Passive video recordings in a residential backyard
Collisions with glass windows on buildings, transportation shelters, noise barriers and fences are a major source of bird mortality. Public awareness of bird-window collisions has grown in recent years, thanks to surveys for dead birds beneath window.....»»