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.....»»
Late Pleistocene humans may have hatched and raised cassowary chicks
As early as 18,000 years ago, humans in New Guinea may have collected cassowary eggs near maturity and then raised the birds to adulthood, according to an international team of scientists, who used eggshells to determine the developmental stage of th.....»»
Decoding birds" brain signals into syllables of song
Researchers can predict what syllables a bird will sing—and when it will sing them—by reading electrical signals in its brain, reports a new study from the University of California San Diego......»»
Desert teamwork explains global pattern of co-operation in birds
A new study from the Kalahari Desert finds that teamwork allows birds to cope with brutally unpredictable environments......»»
Endangered African Penguins, With Multiple Bee Stings, Are Found Dead
More than 60 endangered African penguins were recently found dead, all with multiple bee stings and no other external injuries, according to officials in a coastal city in South Africa where the birds regularly migrate. From a report: Sixty-three dea.....»»
Tropical bananaquits lose song quality in the city
I think we should go this way. This way! THIS! WAY!! Making yourself heard in a city can be difficult. That is not only the case for humans, but birds seem to be hindered by urban noise as well. Researcher Hans Slabbekoorn of Leiden University alread.....»»
Bees kill dozens of endangered penguins in South Africa
A swarm of bees has killed 63 endangered African penguins on a beach outside Cape Town, the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds said on Sunday......»»
Scientists pretend to be Neanderthals to explore how they caught birds in caves for food
Neanderthals, our closest relatives, became extinct between 40,000 to 35,000 years ago. Since the discovery of the first Neanderthal fossil 165 years ago, scientists have learned more about Neanderthals—including their culture, sociality, ecology,.....»»
Jet stream changes could amplify weather extremes by 2060s
New research provides insights into how the position and intensity of the North Atlantic jet stream has changed during the past 1,250 years. The findings suggest that the position of the jet stream could migrate outside of the range of natural variab.....»»
Climate change could force 216 million from their homes: World Bank
Reduced agricultural production, water scarcity, rising sea levels and other adverse effects of climate change could cause up to 216 million people to leave their homes and migrate within their own countries by 2050, the World Bank has warned......»»
Raccoon dogs pose a particular threat to ground-nesting birds in Northern Europe
Duck species in Finland are faring poorly, with more than half of the species listed as threatened to a varying degree, with alien predators as one of the suspected causes......»»
Research shows flocking birds, schooling fish, other collective movements can stabilize ecosystems
In addition to being visually stunning, schools of herring, herds of wildebeest and countless other groups of organisms that act in concert can help complex ecosystems maintain their diversity and stability, new research by Oregon State University sh.....»»
Humans behind extinction of hundreds of bird species over the last 50,000 years
A new study from Tel Aviv University and the Weizmann Institute revealed that over the last 20,000-50,000 years, birds have undergone a major extinction event, inflicted chiefly by humans, which caused the disappearance of about 10 to 20 percent of a.....»»
Birds that disperse more types of seed have better evolutionary chances
More than 70% of plant species that produce flowers depend on birds to disperse their seeds. Birds feed on fruit from a wide array of different plants, and bird-plant interactions configure a welter of complex networks......»»
Birds" eye size reflects habitat and diet, may predict sensitivity to environmental change
A new study shows the eye size of birds can reveal broad patterns of their biology and behavior, including where they live, what they eat and how they hunt, providing a potential roadmap for future conservation efforts......»»
Netflix is still trying to find its female John Wick with trailer for Kate
Mary Elizabeth Winstead follows up Birds of Prey role with a fierce action thriller. Mary Elizabeth Winstead plays an elite assassin—the titular Kate. [credit:.....»»
Unraveling the mechanisms that control parental care in birds
When animals become parents, they often need to change their behaviors in ways that allow them to protect and ensure the survival of their offspring. What happens in the brain when an animal becomes a new parent?.....»»
Bird and mammal diversity is declining with biological invasions
The introduction of invasive species leads to a decline in certain native species. A team of researchers from the CNRS and the University of Paris-Saclay has managed to show that 11% of the global phylogenetic diversity of birds and mammals, in other.....»»
Blood-sucking flies may be following chemicals produced by skin bacteria to locate bats to feed on
We humans aren't the only animals that have to worry about bug bites. There are thousands of insect species that have evolved to specialize in feeding on different mammals and birds, but scientists are still learning how these bugs differentiate betw.....»»
Bird brains left other dinosaurs behind
Today, being "birdbrained" means forgetting where you left your keys or wallet. But 66 million years ago, it may have meant the difference between life and death—and may help explain why birds are the only dinosaurs left on Earth......»»
Some birds observed stealing hair from living mammals
Dozens of online videos document an unusual behavior among tufted titmice and their closest bird kin. A bird will land on an unsuspecting mammal and, cautiously and stealthily, pluck out some of its hair......»»