North Island brown kiwi “no longer threatened”
Kiwis are funny-looking, round, and flightless birds and are the only birds in the world with nostrils at the ends of their beaks. They have the highest body temperature of any bird, over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and they also lay one of the largest eggs relative to their little bodies. The kiwi Read More...
Owls are helping winemakers stay away from pesticides
Winemaking is a delicate and millennia-old craft. To achieve a desirable product, vintners have to pay close attention to soil, rain, heat, and sunlight. Mice and gophers are other problems that vintners often turn to rodenticides to solve. In a bid to provide a more natural solution, a team of Read More...
Fake poop helps tiny endangered owls find new homes
Following decades of human encroachment into California’s grasslands, the once common Western Burrowing Owl is now considered endangered. In an effort to protect the tiny birds from new building developments in US regions like Silicon Valley, local conservationists have been trying for years to Read More...
This former quarry is now a vital habitat for endangered UK birds
About a third of the bird species inhabiting the British Isles are considered endangered. Among them is the secretive bittern, which was until 2015 on the UK’s Red list of most-threatened species. Today however, the thickset heron is among dozens of other endangered bird species whose population Read More...
Conservationists call on birdwatching community to help find lost bird species
Calling all birdwatchers! Conservationists and scientists are requesting the help of the world’s birdwatchers to help them find 10 species of birds that seemed to have disappeared off the face of the earth. The initiative was launched last week as a collaborative effort between Re:wild, Read More...
What are starling murmurations and why do they happen
Those who are lucky enough to witness a starling murmuration know exactly how transfixing and hypnotic it can be to be in the presence of such a magical natural phenomenon. A starling is a small to medium-sized bird that has a short tail, pointed head, and glossy black feathers with hints of Read More...
Rediscovery of endangered Hawaiian bird brings hope for its population
The Kiwkiu, also known as the Maui Parrotbill, was once a common sight on the Hawaiian islands of Maui and Moloka’i. But as a result of human activity, feral pigs, wildcats, and mosquito-transmitted diseases, the golden, thick-billed bird’s population dwindled to around 150. In a bid to Read More...
This app recognizes bird songs in the name of conservation
Our world has lost a third of bird populations since 1970, but unlike elephants and pandas which are constantly referenced in discussions surrounding species loss, many people don’t even realize how quickly avian species are disappearing. Fortunately, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology is working to Read More...
These dogs are sniffing out solutions for safer wind farms
Wind turbines are a great source of renewable energy in blustery climates, but like every solution, there are potential risks to be weighed as well. Turbines take a toll on local birds, bats, and insects, and although the effects of turbines on large birds like condors and eagles are well known, we Read More...
This team of bird paramedics is saving migratory species in New York City
Large skyscrapers pose a dangerous threat to migratory birds who often cannot see directly in front of them while flying. In large urban areas, like New York City, thousands of birds collide with skyscrapers each year, but the bird paramedics of New York are here to help. About 30 volunteers Read More...