Vegetarian birds more sociable than insect eaters
Weaver birds that eat seeds flock together and nest in colonies more commonly than those species that eat insects, suggests new research by an international team of scientists led by the Milner Center for Evolution at the University of Bath. For the.....»»
Dung dynasty: The plant boosting powers of beetle recyclers
Dung beetles, those unsung heroes of the insect world renowned for their prowess in breaking down cattle dung, have now been found to have a positive impact on plant growth......»»
Q&A: Celebrity owl Flaco"s recent death in NYC highlights how bird strikes with buildings are strikingly common
The recent death of Flaco, a Eurasian eagle owl who escaped from New York City's famed Central Park Zoo last year, brought new attention to the issue of bird strikes: Experts estimate that roughly a billion birds die in the U.S. every year in collisi.....»»
Eyes open and toes out of water: How a giant water bug reached the island of Cyprus
The island of Cyprus, although considered a hotspot for biodiversity in the Mediterranean, is more famous for its beautiful sunny coasts than for its insect fauna. Nevertheless, some visitors of its highly populated beaches, with their observations a.....»»
Artificial intelligence brings a virtual fly to life
By infusing a virtual fruit fly with artificial intelligence, Janelia and Google DeepMind, scientists have created a computerized insect that can walk and fly just like the real thing......»»
Tropical birds could tolerate warming better than expected
Consider the globe, spinning silently in space. Its poles and its middle, the equator, remain relatively stable, thermally speaking, for the duration of Earth's annual circuit around the sun. The spaces between—Earth's temperate zones—experience.....»»
Large old trees are vital for Australian birds. Their long branches and hollows can"t be replaced by saplings
When we make roads, houses or farmland, we often find large old trees in the way. Our response is often to lop off offending branches or even cut the tree down......»»
It"s hearty, it"s meaty, it"s mold: Hacking the genome of fungi for smart foods of the future
With animal-free dairy products and convincing vegetarian meat substitutes already on the market, it's easy to see how biotechnology can change the food industry. Advances in genetic engineering are allowing us to harness microorganisms to produce cr.....»»
Make A Tiny TV For Your Cat Because That’s Awesome
Becky Stern really brought a fun project to the world with this one. It’s basically a tiny youtube player, but by tuning into a channel with footage of birds, she made a little TV just for her cat. As usual, Becky shares a full step-by-step on.....»»
The surprising key to magpie intelligence: It"s not genetic
If you've ever had the pleasure of encountering Australia's iconic magpies, you know these birds are intelligent creatures. With their striking black and white plumage, loud warbling voices and complex social behaviors, magpies possess a level of avi.....»»
Research explains why eating feces may be vital for birds" survival
We all know that the early bird gets the worm, but new research shows they turn to something far more nutritious for their breakfast. Feces—either their own, or from other birds—provides them with essential nutrients and energy and helps them ada.....»»
Researchers reveal how a virus hijacks insect sperm: May help control disease vectors and pests
A widespread bacteria called Wolbachia and a virus that it carries can cause sterility in male insects by hijacking their sperm, preventing them from fertilizing eggs of females that do not have the same combination of bacteria and virus......»»
From Texas to Tennessee: Burrowing owl makes odd migration, draws attention
Birds migrating from north to south are a given, but migrating from the southwest to the southeast is a little rarer. A burrowing owl is overwintering on a Tennessee River peninsula near New Johnsonville, Tennessee, marking the first sighting of the.....»»
Study explains how a fungus can control the corn leafhopper, an extremely harmful pest
The corn leafhopper Dalbulus maidis has become a serious problem for farmers. This tiny insect is now widely distributed in the Americas, from the south of the United States to the north of Argentina. In Brazil, it uses only corn plants as hosts, and.....»»
Birds, beetles, bugs could help replace pesticides: Study
Natural predators like birds, beetles and bugs might be an effective alternative to pesticides, keeping crop-devouring pests populations down while boosting crop yields, researchers said Wednesday......»»
Fossil named "Attenborough"s strange bird" was the first of its kind without teeth
No birds alive today have teeth. But that wasn't always the case; many early fossil birds had beaks full of sharp, tiny teeth. In a paper in the journal Cretaceous Research, scientists have described a new species of fossil bird that was the first of.....»»
Study reveals the crow"s best friend: Humans
A new study from Tel Aviv University (TAU) has examined what happens to birds that are accustomed to living around humans, when their habitat is suddenly emptied of the presence of humans. Among other birds, the researchers tested crows, ringneck par.....»»
Similar genetic elements underlie vocal learning in mammals
The vocalizations of humans, bats, whales, seals and songbirds vastly differ from each other. Humans and birds, for example, are separated by some 300 million years of evolution. But scientists studying how these animals learn to "speak" have time an.....»»
From crickets in Melbourne to grasshoppers in Cairns, here"s what triggers an insect outbreak
In recent weeks, Melburnians have reported thousands of crickets showing up in large numbers after dark, flying into homes and shops and taking up residence......»»
Avian influenza virus is adapting to spread to marine mammals
The highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N1 has adapted to spread between birds and marine mammals, posing an immediate threat to wildlife conservation, according to a study from the University of California, Davis, and the National Institute of.....»»
Study finds ability to solve food puzzles is the only predictor of innovation, brain size in wild birds
When certain species of wild birds and primates discover new ways of finding food in the wild, it can serve to measure their flexibility and intelligence......»»