Polar bears are capable of swimming vast distances, a potential survival skill needed in an Arctic environment where summer sea ice is vanishing, a study led by the U.S. Geological Survey showed on Tuesday. The study, published in the Canadian Journal of Zoology, tracked 52 female polar bears in the southern Beaufort Sea off Alaska. […]
Sub-species, colour morph or hybrid?
Birdwatchers are becoming more and more interested in trying to identify sub-species of birds that they see. This may be because they feel they can identify most species they see and are trying to extend their knowledge, or for a small percentage they are doing it in case the sub-species in question is ‘split’ into […]
Lark Sparrow
For a day thatthe weather forecasters said wouldbe “Sunny” this morning sure didn’t start off that way. In fact, for the first hour or more the light was very wishy-washy. The clouds were thick to the east and blocking the sun. But… when the sun finally did start to shine one bird made the bad […]
Emerging Economy Growth To Heat Planet Quicker Than Expected
The ongoing rapid industrialization of the world’s advanced developing economies means global emissions of heat-trapping gases will by the end of the decade exceed safe levels by far more than previously expected, according to a report published Friday. The report from PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency said global greenhouse gas output will be at least […]
Pollen Smugglers
Lured back to the hive after a heist gone bad, a pair of pollen smugglers ignore the bright chaos, their crimes darken the sky. • Honey bee | Apis mellifera
A little bit of Africa in Arabia
There is some debate over which world eco-zone Saudi Arabia belongs in. In the north its flora and fauna are typically western palearctic but in the south west of the country there is a distinctly African feel. The argument is about the rest. I work in Riyadh but I am fascinated by “the little bit […]
Cooler Weather in the Middle of April
Last year we were remarking about how early the seasons are starting, particularly with early springs, now there seems to be an abrupt halt to this trend. In any case the whole world is seeing huge changes in climate and many unnatural and prolonged weather patterns, with intense flooding in Australia, violent hurricanes across the […]
The sound of silence
. Silent Spring, the ground-breaking book by Rachel Carson on the negative effects of DDT and other pesticides, celebrates its 50th birthday this year. Carson’s genius, in part, was in personalizing a difficult and somewhat esoteric subject using a humble and ubiquitous example—nearly everyone, regardless of age, education or political leaning, could easily grasp the […]