Monthly Archives: February 2006

Free-Range Chickens Should Avoid Waterfowl Hangouts

by Amy Posted on 8 February 2006

Poultry companies are advised to keep their free-range chickens away from areas where waterfowl are known to congregate. The Animal Sciences Group of Wageningen University advises poultry concerns to make a strong statement among their ranks, or to even make strict controls.

Chickens without shelter or a fence to protect them are exposed to several risks. The birds can intermingle with wild birds, increasing the chance of illness.

Source: ‘Buitenlopende kippen liever niet in buurt watervogels’

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Posted in Aside, Netherlands | Leave a comment

New Bird Species Found In Indonesian “Lost World”

by Amy Posted on 7 February 2006

A previously undiscovered area high in the Indonesian mountains has revealed dozens of species of birds, butterflies, frogs and plants previously unknown to science.

An international group of 25 scientists studied the area in December 2005. A species of honeyeater bird, with a bright orange wattle, was among the new species discovered.

The team also captured the first photographs of two other previously known species: the Berlepsch’s Six-Wired Bird of Paradise, and the Golden-fronted Bowerbird.

Sources:
“Lost world” found in Indonesian jungle
New Guinea “lost world” revealed
‘Lost world’ found in jungle

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Estonian Oil Slick Disaster Worse Than First Feared

by Amy Posted on 7 February 2006

Last month’s oil spill off the coast of Estonia is now believed to threaten up to 35,000 birds, significantly more than the early estimates of 5,000 birds. As of today more than 3,000 dead birds have already been collected in the spill area. The cause of the leak is still under investigation; Estonian authorities admit that the ship which caused the spill may never be indentified. Read Elizabeth Davies’ story Estonian oil spill threatens 35,000 birds in The Independent.

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Why Are Britain’s Sparrows Vanishing?

by Amy Posted on 7 February 2006

Britain’s great ornithological mystery of recent years, the vanishing of the familiar house sparrow, may finally be solved. A postgraduate researcher in Leicester conducted a study of sparrow chicks and discovered that their food supply in their first few days of life is critical, and the recent scarcity of protein-rich insects in Britain may be contributing to the sparrow’s demise.

Read Michael McCarthy’s story Revealed: why the sparrows are dying out in The Independent.

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Posted in Aside, Europe, Science & Tech | 1 Comment

The Ivory-Billed Woodpecker May Really Be Extinct

by Amy Posted on 5 February 2006

Florida Gulf Coast University ornithologist Jerome A. Jackson states, “Even a cursory comparison of this figure with [photographs and illustrations of real Ivory-billed Woodpeckers] shows that the white on the wing of the bird is too extensive to be that of an Ivory-billed Woodpecker.”
read more | digg story

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Posted in Aside, Endangered, Extinct, North America | Leave a comment

Texas’ No Grackle Left Behind Program

by Amy Posted on 5 February 2006

Officials in Fort Worth, Texas tried laser lights, fog, cannon and firecrackers shot out of guns to scare the large grackle population away. The flocks are considered a public nuisance because they are loud and messy. Now the city has hired hawk Blackjack to scare off the birds that remain. Read the story Hawks recruited to fight downtown grackles in the Dallas Star-Telegram.

Grackles
Grackles by AlphaTangoBravo / Adam Baker, Creative Commons on Flickr

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Posted in Aside, North America | Leave a comment

Michigan Dept. Of Natural Resources Calls For Bird Feeder Moratorium

by Amy Posted on 3 February 2006

The spread of salmonellosis among back yard birds in Michigan has the state’s Department of Natural Resources asking citizens to stop filling bird feeders for two weeks. The department has asked residents to remove their backyard feeders and disinfect them with bleach. Read more Keith Gave’s story Birds dying up north; DNR needs your help on Mlive.

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Resident Fowl Population Increases In Dutch Nature Reserve

by Amy Posted on 3 February 2006

The number of resident birds in the natural area Buurserzand in the province Overijssel, the Netherlands, has strongly increased in the past years. The number of different species as well as individual breeding pairs has seen an increase.

According to the organization Natuurmonumenten, the increase in birds here is in large part due to the successful management of the area. In several parts of Buurserzand more water has become available for wildlife. Approximately 30 hectares of the former private holding Rietschot were added to the Buurserzand protected area in 2005 and since then the number of waterfowl species in the area has increased from six to ten. The number of individual birds has increased from 26 to 88.

Source: Stijging broedvogels in het Buurserzand

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