The Handbook of Birds of the world have just split Arabian Green Bee-eater from Green Bee-eater. Philothrus cyanophrys Cabanis and Heine, 1860, Arabia = mountains of Al Qunfudhah, southwestern Saudi Arabia. Usually treated as conspecific with M. viridissimus and M. orientalis, but differs from both in its very short stub-ended central tail feathers; bright blue […]
POLL: Should the international trade in geckos be stopped?
For many species threatened by the illegal wildlife trafficking, such as rhinos, elephants, tigers, and bears, debates persist as to whether a legal trade in their parts and products can reduce smuggling. But increasing evidence suggests that a legal trade instead acts as a conduit for the illegal trade. For instance, recent studies showed that […]
Wakodahatchee Wetlands, 1/2/2016
On New Year’s Day our family drove down to Palm Beach County to visit my brother-in-law. The following morning I decided to visit Wakodahatchee Wetlands. It’s a wonderful place with a beautifully maintained board walk that takes you through the wetlands. My primary hope was to see the Neotropic Cormorant that has been hanging out […]
On the trail of the wolf, Europe’s much maligned and misunderstood predator
Robert Mysłajek stops dead. Between two paw prints on a muddy mountain track, the scientist finds what he is looking for. “Scats!’’ he enthuses. Wolf sightings are so rare that a flash of faeces marks a good day, even for a seasoned tracker. But it is getting easier. There are now an estimated 1,500 wolves […]
Greater Flamingos – Al Khobar Sea Front
I had a couple of spare hours between dropping the family off and picking them up again in town so went to the Al Khobar Sea Front. This area is being heavily developed but has good tracks along the sea front allowing views over the tidal mud flats. The tide was completely out when I […]
POLL: Could synthetic rhino horns help save the rhino?
From knee joints to human organs, and from prosthetics for pets to guns, it seems that the limits of 3D printing are bound only by imagination. Taking 3D printing to the next step are the founders of a start-up company, Pembient, who want to print synthetic rhino horns. Matthew Markus, one of Pembient’s founders, stated in […]
I hope those Malheur terrorists choke on a cheeto.
Buuuuurds! I took some pictures of them – weird! I realized I hadn’t put up any bird photos in a while, which is absurd and sad, a little ridiculous and totally uncalled for. I also said I’d try to blog it up a little more this year. Lookit me try! So, here’s some friends I […]
Largest Wildlife Census in History Makes Waves in Conservation
Early findings from the largest ever aerial survey of African wildlife—the Great Elephant Census (GEC)—are proving that big data can make a big difference when it comes to saving the world’s largest land mammal. The Africa-wide census, funded by Microsoft billionaire Paul G. Allen, took off in February 2014 with the objective of gaining a […]