This diminutive yellow bird had a whole country tweeting with interest, and craning their necks up to see it perched in the tree of a local’s front yard. Around 300 bird watchers crowded a road in the northern city of Sheffield, where a scarlet tanager was first spotted perched on a clothesline. It is thought […]
Scottish conservation agency accused of undermining law to protect birds of prey
Wildlife charities have condemned a decision by Scotland’s nature conservation agency to dilute a new law designed to combat the illegal killing of birds of prey. NatureScot, a government agency, has decided to greatly reduce the area of land affected by a new licensing regime for grouse moors after legal threats from shooting estates and […]
Migratory Birds Face Increased Danger from NYC Skyscrapers
Concerns over rising bird collisions with buildings in New York City have resurfaced. This autumn appears to have been especially dangerous for migratory birds navigating the city’s dense skyscrapers, with initial reports indicating an uptick in accidents compared to last year. The NYC Bird Alliance notes that the fall season, peaking from early September through […]
Thousands of birds seized in massive Indonesian bird-trafficking bust
Authorities in Indonesia have rescued more than 6,500 wild birds being trafficked from the island of Sumatra and destined for Java, in what’s been hailed as the single largest seizure of its kind in the country’s modern history. Quarantine authorities at the port of Bakauheni in Lampung province, the main crossing point from Sumatra to […]
Farmers Use Bees to Deter Elephants from Romping Over Crops–a Win-Win for All
In Kenya, on the edge of the legendary Tsavo National Park, African honey bees contentedly buzz about near rows of well-tended crops. It’s a scene that’s becoming more common in these rural areas and is driven by an extreme need: to deter elephants from encroaching on farmlands, eating crops, and destroying homes. “The beehive fences […]
Film Looks into the Mystery of Hvaldimir, the Beluga Whale Accused of Espionage
Five years ago, a beluga whale equipped with unusual surveillance gear appeared in the waters of Norway, sparking rumors of espionage. Nicknamed Hvaldimir by locals, the whale’s strange equipment and potential connection to Russian intelligence raised many questions. But as new information emerges, a different story about Hvaldimir’s mission is starting to take shape. The […]
‘Learn how to safely catch funnel-webs’: Sydneysiders tasked with hunt for venom as spiders’ breeding season begins
Hunting for potentially deadly, silky spider burrows in the back yard may not be on every Sydneysiders’ bucket list. But that’s the request of the Australian Reptile Park (ARP) as breeding season begins for funnel-webs, encouraging residents to search shoes, piles of laundry, pools and garden debris for spiders and their egg sacs. A social […]
Social Media Could Boost Wildlife Conservation Efforts for Small Mammal Species, Experts Say
Photos of wildlife on social media have the power to boost conservation by depicting predators not only as beautiful, but as similar to domestic pets. A new study has found that, through their millions of followers, Instagram and Facebook can steer public engagement and awareness toward support for predators like wildcats, who are sometimes shot […]