Brazil’s Blue-and-Yellow Macaws Return to Rio After 200 Years: ‘A dream come true’
In Rio de Janeiro’s largest urban park, the tumult of the city can subside to the faintest murmur among the thick Atlantic Forest ecosystem remnant. It’s here that ecologists have reintroduced the blue-and-yellow macaw through a captive breeding program. It’s a delight—a “dream come true” for residents of a city where the colorful macaw is […]
“An entire colony of breeding penguins disappeared.” Bird flu is out of control – now it’s reached the Antarctic
On 23rd October 2023, a short press release from the government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands reported that Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) – what we mostly shorten to bird flu – had been detected on the wildlife-rich islands of South Georgia. It was the moment that this deadly form of the virus officially […]
Americas flyways atlas maps the routes of 89 at-risk migratory bird species
Announced at the end of March, the “Atlas for the Americas Flyways” website tracks high concentrations of migratory bird species at risk of major population declines along their routes throughout the Americas. This new United Nations-backed tool identifies heavily trafficked breeding grounds, migratory stopover locations and wintering areas, with the aim of providing policymakers and […]
“More than 60% of females gave birth on the same night.” Why do some animals give birth en masse?
In some species, offspring are born (or hatch) at roughly the same time. This is called synchronous reproduction: an evolutionary strategy to give offspring the best possible chance of survival. One of the main drivers of synchronised reproduction is predator satiation. Predators tend to target young animals because they are easy prey. If young are […]
Drones aid dugong conservation as threats mount across their range
Drone technology is providing important new insights into the lives of dugongs, while also revealing the vital role they play in managing seagrass meadows, one of the ocean’s most important carbon sinks. Often referred to as sea cows, dugongs (Dugong dugon) are marine herbivores that can grow up to 3 meters (10 feet) long and […]
What’s the slowest bird on the planet? Clue – it’s also a pretty slow walker and fairly dumpy…
How fast a bird flies depends on a number of factors, including the shape of its wings, its evolutionary history, and its size. What is the slowest bird? Assuming we’re dealing with flight rather than cognitive abilities, then, according to the Guinness Book of World Records and such august ornithological institutions as the US’s National […]
Trump Administration To Prioritize Livestock On Public Lands
The Trump administration, in a March 31, 2026, Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), mandates that livestock production be given priority use on public lands. The administration has declared a “no net loss of Animal Unit Months” and opened allotments that are currently closed to livestock grazing. The stated purpose of the directive is to “protect America’s […]