| Sheep turn shearers to clear land A council in southern France has found a novel way of controlling the creeping advance of nature. It employs sheep. bbc.co.uk |
Mass seagull deaths investigated The Department of Environment and Conservation is investigating the deaths of more than 140 seagulls on Carnac, Penguin and Seal Islands near Rockingham. abc.net.au |
Mystery Bird: Little Corella, Cacatua sanguinea This Australian mystery bird has a talent that exceeds that of all its close relatives. Did you guess what it was?Little Corella, Cacatua sanguinea, also known as the bare-eyed cockatoo (or as the Birdirra among the Yindjibarndi people of the central and western Pilbara), photographed south of Perth in the state of Western Australia. This bird was with a small flock that were feeding on gum nuts by picking them up and tipping their head back. It did look like a bunch of pirates swilling rum!Image: David Stowe, 27 February 2010. [larger view]. I encourage you to purchase images from fine photographer.Canon EOS 1D Mark IV 1/500s f/5.6 at 500.0mm iso800.Question: This Australian mystery bird has a talent that exceeds that of all its close relatives. Can you tell me what that talent is?Response: Unique among the 21 species of cockatoos, the Little Corella can be an excellent talker. The function of vocal mimicry in parrots is not known. 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 |
Today's Mystery bird for you to identify | GrrlScientist This species closely resembles the bird I showed as yesterday's daily mystery bird, but it is actually a different species. What distinguishes these two species?Mystery Bird photographed at Serengeti National Park, northeastern Tanzania, Africa. [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours]Image: Dan Logen, 20 January 2010 (a glimpse through binoculars).Nikon D300, 600 mm lens with 1.4 extender, ISO 800, f/5.6, 1/500 sec.This species closely resembles the bird I showed as yesterday's daily mystery bird, but it is actually a different species. What distinguishes these two species?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 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 |
Male bonding: Penguins 'flirt' with homosexuality King penguins do not form long-term homosexual pairs despite same-sex "flirting", one of the first evidence-based studies shows. news.bbc.co.uk |