Singing a gentle lullaby can help put a human baby to sleep but its usefulness in the low grassland swaying nests of Australian songbirds takes maternal ‘singing’ to even greater heights. Bird ecologists from around the world, including the University of Vienna and Flinders University, have shown an native wren mother’s signature call to her […]
Tag: birds
France accused of flouting EU rules on trapping of wild birds
Bird protection campaigners have accused the French government of flouting European regulations after it rescinded a ban on traditional hunting. They accuse ministers of giving in to lobbying by powerful hunting groups to allow the trapping of thousands of birds as part of an “experimental study”. Most traditional trapping methods were banned in France in […]
At least 1,000 birds died from colliding with one Chicago building in one day
At least 1,000 birds died from colliding into a single building in Chicago on Thursday, 5 October, as they migrated south to their wintering grounds. Volunteers are still recovering bird carcasses within 1.5 miles of McCormick Place, the largest convention center in North America, which is largely covered with glass. “It’s the tip of an […]
AI analyzes bird sightings to help conserve species
For the first time, big data and artificial intelligence are being used to model hidden patterns in nature—not just for one bird species, but for entire ecological communities across continents. The models follow the full annual life cycle of each species, from breeding to fall migration to nonbreeding grounds, and back north again during spring […]
Superior Vocal Learning in Birds Linked to Better Problem Solving and Bigger Brain Size
Originally introduced to North America in the 1800s, the European starling is a magnificent bird, tawny brown with white spots in winter, shining with iridescent purple and green feathers in summer. Not only are they dazzling, since starlings are also some of the most skilled vocal learners, with the ability to mimic the calls of […]
5 Amazing Bird Rescues You Need to See to Believe!
We’ve heard of cat, dog, and even raccoon rescues — but our winged friends have had moments of peril too. Luckily, there are some amazing humans out there ready to step up to the plate and take care of birds when they need it most. From small birds who have accidentally run into windows to […]
A thriving online market for wild birds emerges in Bangladesh
“As cheap as water” is a common saying in Bangladesh. Despite the fact that water is actually not cheap, salespeople nonetheless love to use the expression to draw the attention of potential customers. These days, social media marketplaces use this phrase to advertise something extremely valuable: wild birds. Though selling, buying and caging wild birds […]
Bird once thought to be extinct returns to the wild
A bird thought to be extinct has been spotted for the first time in years thanks to the efforts of conservationists. Eighteen takahē: a large, flightless bird, were released in the Lake Whakatipu Waimāori valley, in New Zealand last week. The birds had been formally declared extinct in 1898, because of being attacked by European […]