The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) recently shared alarming news about the unprecedented conditions on the Colorado River and I’ll attempt to explain their complicated projections. Reclamation, the agency that oversees federal water management across 17 western states, publishes some pretty wonky information, even to those of us who regularly interface with this agency and […]
Tag: climate change
Baby birds fleeing nests too early because of extreme heat on West Coast
Wildlife rescue professionals in Oregon have claimed over 100 baby birds have tried to escape their nest prematurely due to the heatwave engulfing the Pacific Northwest. Conservationists from Pendleton working at Blue Mountain Wildlife, a organisation committed to helping nature thrive, reported that most of the birds survived their falls but faced injuries. Tragically, 13 […]
“Plagues” of Grasshoppers Hit Western US
Drought conditions in the western United States have created great conditions for grasshopper breeding and living. The hoards of grasshoppers are now devouring vegetation as their population numbers increase, CNN reported. Ranchers are worried land could be stripped bare. States like Colorado, Utah, Oregon, Wyoming, Montana and others are experiencing the onslaught. Scientists point to […]
Philippines’ rich bird life is more threatened than we thought, study says
The Philippines is made up of more than 7,000 islands, supporting an extraordinary number of species that occur nowhere else on the planet. Eighty-six new endemic bird species have been described in the Philippines in just the last decade — more than all avian endemics ever recorded in either China or India. Nevertheless, the country’s […]
Giant pandas no longer endangered in the wild, China announces
Giant pandas are no longer endangered in the wild, but they are still vulnerable with a population outside captivity of 1,800, Chinese officials have said after years of conservation efforts. The head of the environment ministry’s department of nature and ecology conservation, Cui Shuhong, said the reclassification was the result of “improved living conditions and […]
Petition: List Monarch Butterflies as Threatened Under the Endangered Species Act
Monarch butterflies are such a beautiful species. Aside from being lovely to look at it, Monarch butterflies also play an important role in our environment. They are vital pollinators and food sources for other creatures. These small insects play a big role in keeping a balanced ecosystem. Sadly, the population of Monarch butterflies is on […]
Puffins under threat as European boats overfish in UK waters post Brexit, RSPB warns
Overfishing by Scandinavian boats in UK waters is threatening the puffin bird, according to wildlife conservation groups. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) has renewed calls for “urgent action” to curb the fishing practices of boats from countries such as Denmark and Norway. Under EU quota arrangements that have continued through Brexit, […]
As Seagrass Habitats Decline, Florida Manatees Are Dying Of Starvation
In Florida, wildlife managers and environmental groups are stunned by a record number of manatee deaths. More than 750 manatees have died since the beginning of the year, the most deaths ever recorded in a five month period. Most of the deaths are in Florida’s Indian River Lagoon, where a large die-off of seagrass has […]