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.....»»
Australian footprints are the oldest known evidence of birds from southern regions
Early birds had made it to southern polar environments by 120 million years ago, according to a study published November 15, 2023 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Anthony Martin of Emory University, U.S. and colleagues......»»
New deep learning AI tool helps ecologists monitor rare birds through their songs
Researchers have developed a new deep learning AI tool that generates lifelike bird songs to train bird identification tools, helping ecologists to monitor rare species in the wild. The findings are presented in Methods in Ecology and Evolution......»»
What"s behind the toxic levels of mercury in tropical birds? Gold mining, study shows
The tropics are home to more than 75% of all species and are projected to support 50% of the world's human population by mid-century, but little is known about mercury pollution in these life-filled regions......»»
Insect trapped in amber reveals the evolutionary battles of ancient Europe
An extraordinary insect preserved in amber is opening our ears to a world of communication beyond our hearing. New research on an extinct katydid in the Natural History Museum's collection reveals that katydids have been using ultrasounds for million.....»»
Australia has more native bird species than almost anywhere else. What led to this explosion of diversity?
When you went out today, did you see any birds? A galah perhaps, or a crow?.....»»
Birds" nests express their unique style and past experiences, study finds
Walking through a town or city, you will encounter buildings with diverse shapes and sizes. These unique styles exist in part because the buildings were constructed by different architects, engineers and builders......»»
Desert birds lay larger eggs when they have more helpers, research shows
White-browed sparrow weavers live in family groups in which only a dominant pair breeds and their grown-up offspring, particularly females, help to feed nestlings......»»
Hummingbirds" unique sideways flutter gets them through small apertures
Most birds that flit through dense, leafy forests have a strategy for maneuvering through tight windows in the vegetation—they bend their wings at the wrist or elbow and barrel through......»»
Connecting with kids who don"t want to engage
Angry Birds, Mario Kart and Animal Crossing are popular digital games that have captured the attention of children the world over. But in a preschool environment, games like these could distract your kids from engaging in the curriculum, unless you h.....»»
Signs of wear on mosasaurs" teeth show they were picky eaters who liked seafood
The cradle of paleontology—the study of fossil remains of animals and plants—lies in the Maastricht limestones, where the first Mosasaurus was discovered in 1766. The Dutch-Belgian border area around the Limburg capital is one of the best-explore.....»»
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......»»
Warmer, wetter winters bring risks to river insects
Research by Cardiff University has shown that the warmer, wetter winters in the U.K. caused by climate change are likely to impact the stability of insect populations in streams......»»
No appetite for vegetarian diet to help the planet, finds study
Social media users believe reducing and eliminating meat intake is ineffective in addressing climate change and reported low willingness to engage in either action, according to a new study from La Trobe University......»»
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.....»»
Okinawa"s ants show reduced seasonal behavior in areas with more human development
Insects have an important role in maintaining the health of ecosystems, but our understanding of how human activities affect their populations is limited. This gap in knowledge is worrying because of the decline of insect populations and the severe c.....»»
Restoring Cuyamaca"s tree canopy is years away: Some birds may never return
It is a 2.6-mile hike up Lookout Road to reach Cuyamaca Peak from Paso Picacho Campground......»»
Fruit, nectar, bugs and blood: How bat teeth and jaws evolved for a diverse dinnertime
They don't know it, but Darwin's finches changed the world. These closely related species—native to the Galapagos Islands—each sport a uniquely shaped beak that matches their preferred diet. Studying these birds helped Charles Darwin develop the.....»»
Analysis finds diversity on the smallest scales in sulfur-cycling salt marsh microbes
At the surface, salt marshes and their windswept grasses can look deceptively simple. But those marshes are teeming with biodiversity, from the insects and migrating birds in the air all the way down to the microbes that live in the soil. Scientists.....»»
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......»»
Subsistence poaching found to have little impact on biodiversity in the Amazon"s environmental protection areas
The presence of Indigenous communities and traditional river dwellers in extractive reserves located in Legal Amazonia is not a threat to birds and mammals considered subsistence poaching targets, according to a study reported in the journal Biologic.....»»