| The Bay Citizen: A Green Idea That Sounded Good Until the Trees Went to Work The New Zealand Christmas tree thrives in San Francisco, but is destructive as well. Nonetheless, it is not easy for a homeowner to gain city permission to remove one. feeds.nytimes.com |
Vital Signs: Nutrition: Risky Additions to a Low-Carb Diet People who replace bread and pasta with calories from animal protein and animal fat may face an increased risk of early death from cancer and heart disease, a new study reports. feeds.nytimes.com |
Grassley Backs Renewable Electricity Standard A bill that would require utilities nationwide to generate at least 15 percent of their electricity from renewable sources like wind, solar and biomass by 2021 is gaining more Republican support. feeds.nytimes.com |
Mystery Bird: Wilson's warbler, Wilsonia pusilla | GrrlScientist A daily mystery bird demsytified! This gorgeous but tiny neotropical species has an impressive taxonomic history to share with youWilson's warbler, Wilsonia pusilla, photographed at Quintana Neotropical Bird Sanctuary, Brazoria County, Texas, United States. Image: Joseph Kennedy, 29 September 2010 [would you like to see this bird with binoculars?].Nikon D200, Kowa 883 telescope with TSN-PZ camera eyepiece 1/500s f/8.0 at 1000.0mm iso400Question: This stunning North American species has experienced a taxonomic migratory history that rivals its seasonal migrations. Can you tell me a little about that?Response: Wilson's Warbler, Wilsonia pusilla, a common neotropical migratory bird, has experienced a rather impressive taxonomic migration since it was first described nearly 200 years ago by the American ornithologist Alexander Wilson. In his description, he assigned this species to the genus Muscicapa. But a couple decades later in 1838, the French naturalist and ornithologist, Charles Lucien Bonaparte, moved this species to its current genus, Wilsonia (named for Wilson). But almost immediately afterwards in 1840, zoologist Thomas Nuttall moved this cute little bird to the now-defunct genus Sylvania. But that classification didn't stick, either, because by 1845, many naturalists had placed this species into another (now defunct) genus, Myiodioctes. But in 1899, the American Ornithological Union returned this taxonomically-migratory species to Wilsonia, where it has remained since. Embedded below is a 2 minute radio program about the migration of the Wilson's Warbler (also including the species' lovely song), thanks to my friends at BirdNote Radio:If you have bird images, video or mp3 files that you'd like to share with a large and appreciate 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 |
Scientist at Work: Expeditionary Civilization A field expedition brought in by helicopter to the Peruvian forest sets up its own small, slightly off-kilter civilization. feeds.nytimes.com |