| Researchers monitoring Hawaii coral for bleaching By AUDREY McAVOY 2010-08-22T21:32:35ZPEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (AP) -- Scientists plan to monitor corals in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands next month for signs of bleaching that could harm the reefs.... hosted.ap.org |
The Clean Air Act Turns 40 As the Clean Air Act turns 40, the law, which has been attacked by business interests since its birth as overly costly and prescriptive, is under siege again. feeds.nytimes.com |
Today's mystery bird for you to identify This North American mystery bird is a spectacular example of convergent evolution because it is very similar in appearance to another (not closely related) species with an overlapping range. Can you name this species and the species it closely resembles?Mystery Bird photographed in southern California, USA. [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours]Image: Steve Duncan, 2010 [larger view].Question: This North American mystery bird is a spectacular example of convergent evolution because it is very similar in appearance to another (not closely related) species with an overlapping range. Can you name this species and the species it closely resembles?Daily Mystery Bird Rules: 1. Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification, keeping in mind that more than one field mark is often necessary to distinguish between species. IDs without any supporting information are not valid and may be deleted by the moderators. 2. Expert and intermediate level birders: do NOT try to be the first to blurt out the mystery bird's ID. Instead, please provide helpful hints, such as descriptions, literary references, puns, personal anecdotes, and other forms of discussion and assistance for beginning birders and for those following on their iPhones without naming the species. Expert and intermediate birders are free to name the bird species 24 or more hours after it was first published.3. Each mystery bird is usually accompanied by a question or two. These questions can be useful for identifying the pictured species, but may instead be used to illustrate an interesting aspect of avian biology, behaviour or evolution, or may be intended to generate conversation on other topics, such as conservation. 4. Each bird species will be demystified 48 hours after publication. If you have bird images, video or mp3 files that you'd like to share with a large and appreciative audience, feel free to email them to me for consideration.GrrlScientistguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
'Good neighbor' corn fights borers at home, nearby By STEVE KARNOWSKI 2010-10-07T22:23:14ZMINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- This corn turns out to be a very good neighbor.... hosted.ap.org |
What a fluke! Dolphins learn to 'walk on water' Wild dolphins in Australia are naturally learning to "walk" on their tail flukes, a rare example of playful behaviour being culturally transmitted among animals. news.bbc.co.uk |