The American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) almost became extinct 30 years ago. Under constant pressure from market hunters who sold both the meat and hides, and a significant loss of habitatdue toagricultural and residential development, the alligator was listed as an endangered species in 1967. With the Endangered Species Act of 1973 all hunting of this […]
Steppe Gull (Larus fuscus barabensis) – Status & identification in Eastern Saudi Arabia
The taxonomic treatment of the Large White-headed Gulls (LWHG) in Saudi Arabia has undergone various revisions over the years. Prior to 1970, and following the principle reference works for the region at the time, Vaurie – The Birds of the Palearctic Fauna, Non Passeriformes (1965) & Hue & Etchecopar –Les Oiseaux du Proche et du […]
Over Two Thirds of Fatalities of Endangered California Condors Caused by Lead Poisoning
Here is another no-brainer for you. A new study authored by San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research scientists has found that 67 percent of adult condor deaths are attributable to lead poisoning! The massive effort to save the California Condor (Gymnogyps californianus) was initiated in 1982 when the remaining 22 wild birds were captured […]
Birds of Peru around Ollantaytambo
Part 02/11 of Glenn Bartley’s 3-month trip around Peru – Flipping through the field guide to the birds of Peru there was another hummingbird from this region that grabbed my attention. The White-tufted Sunbeam is a real stunner that is also endemic to Peru. I had to travel to the smaller town of Ollantaytambo and […]
A Dream Was Realized
As a young lad, my favourite shows were Johnny Quest, Hercules, and Tarzan. My dream quickly became a trip to Africa to see first hand what these amazing animals looked like face to face. At 49 years old, I packed in my business of contracting in 2008 and went full time as a wildlife photographer, […]
Birds of Peru around Lago Huacarpay
Part 01/11 of Glenn Bartley’s 3-month trip around Peru – On the first of September I traveled from my home in Victoria, BC to Lima Peru for a 3 month bird photography expedition. My plan was to travel around the country in search of as many of the most beautiful and endemic birds that I […]
Whales ‘stressed by ocean noise’
Noise from ships stresses whales nearby, researchers have shown. Ships’ propellers emit sound in the same frequency range that some whales use for communicating, and previous studies have shown the whales change their calling patterns in noisy places. Now, researchers have measured stress hormones in whale faeces, and found they rose with the density of […]
Ladybird decline driven by ‘invading’ harlequin
Ladybirds native to the UK and other European countries are declining fast as the invasive harlequin species spreads, scientists have shown. Researchers found that seven out of the eight native British species they studied have declined, with issues also identified in Belgium and Switzerland. The harlequin is an Asian species brought in for pest control, […]