When looking at the planet’s skies and oceans, it is no surprise that Earth has been given the moniker ‘blue planet’. Yet in nature, the colour blue is rare. For example, fewer than 10 per cent of all plants possess blue flowers, while the colour is even rarer among animals – which is why the […]
Tag: booby
How seabird poop helped fuel ancient civilizations in Peru
The Chincha Islands off the coast of Peru are home to many seabird species that cover their island homes with thick layers of poop, or guano. New research now suggests that ancient Peruvians in the Chincha Valley on the Peruvian mainland hunted these seabirds, collected their guano, and used it to fertilize their maize crops, […]
Endangered seabirds return to Pacific island after century-long absence
Small seabirds skim the open ocean at night, patting their legs on the surface as they hunt for small fish. Now, for the first time in more than 100 years, endangered Polynesian storm petrels (Nesofregetta fuliginosa) have returned to a far-flung island in French Polynesia. These rare birds began exploring Kamaka Island just three weeks […]
Brazil Ubatuba Day #7 – Tanagers Galore
Today’s birding in the Atlantic Forest of Ubatuba was really about brilliance. We could not have our breakfast quietly, nor leave the lodge on time, because of tanager et al. action on the bananas. Green-headed Tanager is truly spectacular Brazilian Tanager is so brilliant red it hurts the eye Blue Dacnis are uber-pretty too. Here’s […]
Scotland #3 – Seabird Extravaganza
Back home in Norwich already, but I have some more Scottish tales to tell. On July 31st we went out to sea with my mate Phil from Shetland Seabird Tours. We left Lerwick harbour and headed towards Noss NNR. Phil boat is great – small enough to get close to water level, but sits very […]