Government Declares war On Urban #Seagulls

Ministers plan to launch a research project to find a solution to the growing problems of noise, mess, disease and aggression caused by urban seagulls. The population of herring gulls has fallen  60% in the last 30 years and lesser black-backed gulls have declined 30% in 25 years, but in towns and cities their numbers have increased dramatically as they are drawn to our ever growing landfill sites.  The environment minister, Richard Benyon, has asked  Bristol University  to begin a 3 year research project to find solutions to the problem.

Read More at The Independent

Read More

Woodland #Birds Join Extinction Danger List

Though widespread 40 years ago, both willow tit and lesser spotted woodpecker populations have dropped by 91% and 76% respectively since the 1970s. What is not clear are the reasons for the decline and the birds are to be monitored to to try to discover  why they are struggling. The long-eared owl, short-eared owl and Arctic skua have also been added to the list of 'at risk' species by The Rare Breeding Birds Panel and experts are now tracking 103 species of rare birds. They are asking bird watchers to submit records if they see any of the birds which are on the at-risk register.  

Read More at The Independent

Read More

#Bird's Missing Finger Mystery Solved

Most vertebrates have five digits on each of their limbs but birds have only three. Scientists have long puzzled over which digits the birds have retained. Are they thumb, index and middle finger or index, middle and ring fingers? Now scientists at Yale have done genomic analysis that reveals that the innermost digit is genetically a thumb but in the position of the index finger. 

Read More at Science Daily

Read More

Know Your Birds – There's An App For That

Ever been in out walking and heard a bird, singing merrily away and wished you knew what species it was? Me too! The trouble with bird identification books is that you have to be able to see the bird, which is not easy most of the time. Well there is an app for that. Birds of Britain is a wonderful resource for either your iPhone or iPad. It lists all our British birds, gives details of their habitat and behaviour along with beautiful photographs and most important, examples of their song. The original version also lets you record and plot your sightings and download your own photos. At 69p I think they are a bargain.

View Birds of Britain in iTunes

View Birds of Britain HD in iTunes

Posted by Astrojenny

For bird control visit www.capy.co.uk 

Read More

An Avian Architecture Slide Show

This stunning slide show from Slate shows the diversity & skill that birds from around the world use to meet their housing needs. From the intricate constructions of weaver birds to the elaborate decorations employed by bowerbirds. From the community living of flamingoes to the reclusive female hornbill who seals herself into the nest with her eggs & doesn't leave till the chicks are ready to fledge.

See Slide Show at Slate

Posted by Astrojenny

For bird control visit www.capy.co.uk

Read More

The Mathematics Of Flocks

Mathematical models have shown that the complex patterns formed by flocks of starlings, called a murmuration, or schools of fish moving in unison, obey a few simple rules. Computer models were used to help decode these rules. Fish schools are always elongated as an automatic result of self organisation. As a fish, swimming behind another, slows down to avoid a collision, its immediate neighbours move in to fill the gap, producing an elongated school. Individual fish on the outskirts of a turning group can accelerate slightly, while those inside slow down, so the fish maintain their position in the group and keep the school elongated. Starling flocks produce more complex, varied patterns. Birds in the flock turn individually but do not vary their speed much, so the positions of birds relative to one another change. A wide & flat flock becomes long and narrow after a 90-degree turn. Another factor is the large number of individuals in the flock & the small number of partners (seven) that each bird interacts with.

Read More at Science Daily

Posted by Astrojenny

For bird control visit www.capy.co.uk 

 

Read More

More British Birds Dying Of Malaria

A worldwide analysis into over 3,000 species around the world has found that 30 species of British garden birds including nightingales, sparrows and chaffinches are infected with malaria. The rise is attributed to increased mosquito populations caused by a 1ºC rise in temperature due to global warming. The avian version of malaria cannot be passed to humans.

Read More at The Guardian

Posted by Astrojenny

 

For bird control visit www.capy.co.uk 

Read More

Beautiful Birds Photo Gallery

These amazing shots from his new book 'Birds: Magic Moments' by Finnish wildlife photographer Markus Varesvuo capture avian behaviour like never before. A common gull attacking a sea eagle in mid flight, squabbling starlings, fighting black grouse, swallows, an adorable ptarmigan chick , a hoopoe, a bee-eater, a northern goshawk drinking, a great grey owl, a snow white willow grouse and the pure symmetry of an arctic tern.

View Gallery at The Telegraph

Posted by Astrojenny

For all your pest control problems, please visit www.capy.co.uk and book a professional pest control technician or purchase DIY pest control products and kits.

Read More

Adventure Is For The Birds

Researchers at The University of Exeter tested 150 zebra finches to get a sense of their personalities.  It found that the most inquisitive, adventurous females were attracted to those males that exhibited similar characteristics. The females were shown a pair of males exploring a new cage. One of the males was restricted by a clear-sided box. When brought together the more outgoing females pursued the more adventurous males while the more timid  females showed no preference. 

Read More at The Telegraph

Posted by Astrojenny

For bird control, visit, www.capy.co.uk 

Read More

Birds Learn The Art Of Nest-Building

Researchers from Edinburgh, Glasgow and St Andrews Universities have been studying the nest building techniques of southern masked weaver birds in Botswana. If the birds were all building to a genetic template they would all build their nests in the same way, but the team discovered that the birds varied their technique from one nest to the next with some birds building nests from left to right as well as from right to left. It was also observed that birds became more proficient, dropping blades of grass less often, as they gained experience. 

Read More at Physorg.com

Posted by Astrojenny 

For all your pest control problems, please visit www.capy.co.uk and book a professional pest control technician or purchase DIY pest control products and kits.

 

Read More

Research Reinforces Cycle Of Violence In Boobies

Research Reinforces Cycle Of Violence In Boobies

Scientists studying a colony of Nasca boobies on the Galapagos Islands have found that young chicks abused by older birds are more likely to grow up to become abusers themselves. The birds live in dense colonies, leading to bouts of violence as mature birds attack lone chicks while the parents are away feeding. Over three breeding seasons found a strong correlation was discovered between the frequency that chicks were attacked by non-breeding adults, and the frequency that they themselves attacked chicks when they reached adulthood. This is the first evidence from a wild animal that abuse can be socially transmitted as it can with humans.

Read More at BBC Nature

Read More