This bird is like a GPS for honey
The honeyguide recognizes calls made by different human groups. Enlarge / A greater honeyguide (credit: Keabetswe Maposa) With all the technological advances humans have made, it may seem like we’ve lost touch with na.....»»
Dangerous bee virus less deadly in at least one US forest, researchers find
This year's cold and flu season is bringing good news for honey bees. Penn State researchers have found that the deadly deformed wing virus (DMV) may have evolved to be less deadly in at least one U.S. forest. The findings could have implications for.....»»
New study using 3D scans of 85% of all known bird species sheds light on extraordinary avian diversity
A new study, using the digitized scans of beaks from over 8,700 bird species, is shedding light on how evolution changes at different scales. While the general principles of evolution by natural selection have been known for over 160 years, the 3D sc.....»»
Local adaptation may buffer some birds against climate change
North American song sparrows may be more resilient to climate change thanks to a remarkable adaptation: a stunning range of body sizes found throughout the bird's westernmost range......»»
Q&A: Birds of East Africa—their extraordinary diversity and changing behavior
101 Curious Tales of East African Birds is a new book that uses academic research to tell fascinating stories about the tropical birds of east Africa, from well-known species to rare ones. It also explores changing bird behavior in the region. Its au.....»»
Study shows how bird flu could be eradicated by editing the genes of chickens
Recent advances in gene editing technology could potentially be used to create disease-resistant animals. This could curtail the spread of avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu......»»
Bird Flu Reaches the Antarctic for the First Time
As the first known cases of H5N1 are detected in the region, scientists fear for the isolated penguin and seal populations that have never been exposed......»»
Digital terrain models zero in on Martian surface
Picture soaring over a rugged canyon on another world, strapped into an imaginary hang glider. Or getting a bird's eye view of craters that stretch on for miles and following along the same paths as the robotic rovers that have explored the surface o.....»»
Tiny networks intertwine to mimic design of bird colors
The bright plumage of birds is often a feast for the eyes, but it has been a headache for scientists who have struggled to recreate the photonic nanostructures that generate those colors in the lab......»»
Bird flu kills more than 500 marine mammals in Brazil
At least 522 seals and sea lions have been found dead along the coast of southern Brazil, authorities said Wednesday, blaming the die-off on avian flu......»»
Geographers propose way for governments to help keep consumers" grocery costs down
Hikes in grocery prices—11% last year alone—often arise from factors outside of governments' control, whether it's bird flu driving up egg costs or heavy rain and flooding in California drowning crops of veggies, nuts and berries......»»
New deadly bird flu cases reported in Iowa, joining 3 other states as disease resurfaces
Two commercial turkey farms in Iowa have been hit by the reemerging highly pathogenic bird flu, causing about 100,000 birds to be killed to prevent the disease from spreading......»»
Q&A: Do we need a new approach to prevent bird window strikes?
In early October, nearly 1,000 birds perished after colliding with the windows of a convention center near Lake Michigan in Chicago, marking the largest mass bird die-off in decades. But bird window-strike fatalities are an ongoing threat. Illinois N.....»»
First confirmed cases of avian influenza in the Antarctic region
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has been confirmed in brown skua populations on Bird Island, South Georgia—the first known cases in the Antarctic region......»»
Why you should count your chickens (and kookaburras, lorikeets or other backyard birds)
This year is the tenth annual Aussie Backyard Bird Count, which Professor Simon Griffith says highlights the important role citizen science projects play in our understanding of changes taking place in our world......»»
Heat waves harm bird reproduction on agricultural lands, research suggests
Bird populations are in rapid decline across North America. While climate change is just one of the many factors influencing North American birds, its effects are significant and can interact with other stressors, such as habitat loss. A team of Univ.....»»
Current bird flu epidemic found to have originated in Europe and Africa
An international team of biologists, public health specialists and infectious disease experts reports that the current near-global bird flu epidemic has its roots in Europe and Africa. In their study, published in the journal Nature, the group analyz.....»»
House of Marley’s new earbuds make sustainability more affordable
House of Marley has always been big on eco-friendly designs, but the Little Bird wireless earbuds break new ground on affordability......»»
These Gene-Edited Chickens Were Made to Resist Bird Flu
Avian influenza can wipe out entire poultry flocks. An early experiment with Crispr suggests that gene editing can protect chickens against infection......»»
Mimicking a bird"s sticky spit to create cellulose gels
Using a small bird's nest-making process as a model, researchers from North Carolina State University have developed a nontoxic process for making cellulose gels. The freeze-thaw process is simple, cost-effective, and can create cellulose gels that a.....»»
Honey bees may inherit altruistic behavior from their mothers
True altruism is rare behavior in animals, but a new study by Penn State researchers has found that honey bees display this trait. Additionally, they found that an evolutionary battle of genetics may determine the parent from whom they inherit it......»»