Punta Tombo, Argentina is a penguin paradise | Cool Travel Ideas. You don't need to freeze your buns in Antarctica to see penguins. There's an incredible place on the coast of Argentina where up to half a million magellanic penguins gather each year for breeding season. To see these adorable birds, Punta Tombo is the place to go. Friendly penguin, checking us out My first impression of Punta Tombo was "this doesn't look right". This penguin paradise is in a dusty desert area that just didn't fit with my ideas of penguin life. Little did I know! Imagine the surface of the moon, with penguins popping up here and there out of holes in the ground, like some giant whack-a-mole game, and you get the picture. Like the surface of the moon - with penguins! Penguins, penguins, penguins Punta Tombo is located on the coast of Argentina, about halfway between Buenos Aires and the tip of South America. Penguin youngster out for a walk Magellanic penguins are named for the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan, who saw them on his voyage around South America in 1520.
How to tell sexes of African gray parrots. Native to the rain forests of both central and west Africa, African grey parrots are highly intelligent birds. They are very social creatures, make for excellent pets, and enjoy the company of people. African grey parrots are extremely skilled at mimicking human language, and are noted for their gentle and calm nature.
In the wild, they nest in tree hollows and typically live on fruit, nuts, seeds and a variety of leaves. A bird with a long life The lifespan of an African grey parrot can be as long as 90 years. Determining gender For those who do decide to buy an African grey parrot, determining the sex of their pet bird is not as simple a process as many might assume it to be. Vital statistics Typically, male African grey parrots are larger than the females. Tails, bellies, and eyes A fairly precise determination of the sex of an African grey parrot can be achieved by examining the tail. More slideshows. eHow | How to Videos, Articles & More - Discover the expert in you. | eHow.co.uk. SheppeyWildlife : Sitting with a cup of tea looking... Tweet of the Day... but it's more relaxing than Twitter: David Attenborough to present BBC Radio 4 birdsong series.
Every episode of Tweet of the Day will be available to downloadDavid Attenborough is among presenters who will host the seriesBeginning on May 6th, it will run for 265 episodes By Simon Cable Published: 23:11 GMT, 23 April 2013 | Updated: 09:27 GMT, 24 April 2013 The show will run for 265 episodes, with each one being accompanied by a short narration related to the different species, including the Nightingale To a younger audience, the title may seem somewhat misleading. But BBC Radio 4’s new programme, Tweet of the Day, will not have anything to do with social networking site Twitter, it will be a daily broadcast of birdsong.
Veteran wildlife expert David Attenborough is among a number of presenters who will host the series which will feature a 90-second recording of a different bird each day. Beginning on May 6th, it will run for 265 episodes, with each one being accompanied by a short narration related to the different species, including the Cuckoo, Nightingale, Tawny Owl and Storm Petrel. Parrots. RSPB says seabird deaths caused by 'worst PIB spill' 22 April 2013Last updated at 11:37 ET Hundreds of birds have been affected in two major incidents this year The RSPB has said a pollution incident which has killed more than 1,000 birds was the worst case involving polyisobutene (PIB) it was aware of. Peter Exley, from the wildlife charity, told BBC News this was the "worst spill" involving the substance. He said almost 20 species of bird had been washed up on the coasts of Devon, Cornwall and Dorset since 10 April.
The RSPB is calling for PIB, used in ship's engines, to be reclassified. At the moment it can be legally released into the sea under certain conditions. Mr Exley said: "For this particular chemical it's the worst spill that we've seen. " He said he hoped the pollution had "peaked" but that it was not known how many birds still at sea were affected by it. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said it was trying to determine the source of the latest incident. 'Global responsibility'
Image. Elderly couple too scared to leave own home after being terrorised by angry pheasant. Ann Hudson, 77, and husband Ben, 79, are only family attacked in Shropshire villageDaughter Sally-Ann now leaves home with badminton racquet for protectionThe attacks have been going on for four months By Paul Bentley Published: 11:48 GMT, 17 April 2013 | Updated: 23:50 GMT, 17 April 2013 Vandalising cars, attacking the elderly and head-butting windows, Phil has become notorious in his home village. The yob in question? Not a feral teen but a very territorial pheasant. Residents of Wentnor in Shropshire spoke of their despair yesterday at the bird’s behaviour, with some saying they can’t leave their home for fear of being pecked and chased.
Scroll down for video Sally-Ann Hudson, 44 has been protecting her elderly parents from the angry bird for four months Sally-Ann now keeps a badminton racquet close by when she walks round her garden to fend off the 2ft pheasant The 2ft tall pheasant, nicknamed Phil, lurks by the home of Sally-Ann Hudson, 44, and her parents Ann, 77, and Ben, 79.
Rare-birds-killed-off-after-migration-north-sees-them-face-freezing-temperatures-back-in-uk-8567429. The remains of eight malnourished stone curlews – one of the UK’s most threatened birds, recently returned from their wintering grounds in Africa and Spain – were discovered in fields in Norfolk, Suffolk and Wiltshire in the past few days, the RSPB has reported. The malnourished creatures, which weighed around 300g each compared to a healthy weight of 450g, are believed to have died after struggling to find enough food to survive following their annual migration to the UK. A number of puffins and other seabirds including razorbills and guillemots were found dead off the coast of Scotland and North East England two weeks ago as a result of continuous freezing conditions and stormy seas making it hard to find food.
There have also been reports of short-eared owls and barn owls found dead after cold weather hindered their ability to hunt. The late onset of spring has meant a lack of activity usual for this time of year. A number of birds have been confused by lower than normal temperatures. Nightingale. Thewildoutside : Your garden birds need food... Looking After Your Garden Birds - thewildoutside.com. Garden Bird Info thewildoutside - Looking After Your Garden Birds With the recent news that our feathered friends are suffering huge losses, now more than ever we need to help our feathered friends. We’ve trawled the internet to find you the best advice on how to look after your garden birds as well as the best foods and foods to avoid. Update (Aug 2013) - Great News! Wigglywigglers have agreed to supply wildlife food and feeders for thewildoutside garden. Wigglywigglers bird food comes direct from their farm in rural Herefordshire to your feeders. Useful bird feeding tips and help below!
Image courtesy of wigglywigglers.co.uk Feeding your Garden Birds Winter Notice: Our Garden Birds require extra food and a water supply during the winter months, please remember to put out both and try to keep the water free from frost. Bird seed mixtures There are lots of different mixes, but if you can, get the ones with plenty of flaked maize, sunflower seeds and peanut granules. Black sunflower seeds Peanuts. Jay. ‘Murder’ most fowl. HIGH-RISING TOLL: Thousands of birds, like this ruby-crowned kinglet, ramNYC high-rises. ( ) Manhattan is where birds come to die. In the next few weeks, some 25,000 migrating birds — flying through New York City to their annual spring breeding grounds up north — will perish by smashing into glass skyscrapers, according to New York City Audubon, the local affiliate of the famed bird group. “It’s rush hour now,” said Glenn Phillips of Audubon, which starting tomorrow will be setting up a scientific study at the Bronx Zoo in hope of coming up with less deadly building-glass designs.
It’s estimated that several million birds fly through New York City each year, Phillips said. “It’s shocking,” said Phillips. After a 200-mile, 10-hour night flight, the birds can be flying as fast as 30 mph when they collide with a building. The extremely delicate creatures can suffer internal bleeding and head trauma upon high-speed impact with the city’s sky-high towers. Black Vulture…South American…Catharista Uruba. Amazon Rainforest Bird. | earth2mother. Black Vultures. Catharista Uruba. ( Diary- Dry Season) Brazilian Amazon Rainforest.
One morning a loud flap of wings and a shuffle behind me caused me to turn around and there stood, three South American Black Vultures. I was sitting on the wooden harbour boards, birdwatching. I had just finished washing up in the river water and the soft clouds hiding the glaring sun for a while allowed me to sit and stare. Like this: Like Loading... BTO Bird ID - Little Egret and Great White Egret. Flywildflyfree : another one... Is pigeon racing cruel? 27 March 2013Last updated at 07:01 GMT By Roger Harrabin Environment analyst Professional pigeon fancier Jeremy Davies in his Worcestershire loft It’s a bit like an Olympic training camp. Only the athletes are pigeons. The lofts at Birtsmorton in Worcestershire are clean and modern. Bad experiences in Trafalgar Square had led me to foresee a flutter of mangy birds in a loft strewn with droppings. These birds are glowing with health and their sawdust floor is cleaner than my local pub. The white ones are almost loveable.
The birds are all being raised by a professional pigeon fancier and trained on behalf of their owners for the thrill of the race. But this seemingly innocuous sport is heading for a shock; it has been condemned by the radical animal rights group Peta as fundamentally cruel. I found this accusation hard to credit at first, until a casual chat with a colleague. Ethical dilemma? She told me this extraordinary story. A simple solution was at hand, in the shape of an air rifle. More attractive birds mother healthier chicks even if they are rearing another animal's offspring. Researchers took two with different patterning, and swapped chicksFound link between health of infants and 'attractiveness' of mother By Amanda Williams Published: 10:02 GMT, 25 March 2013 | Updated: 10:03 GMT, 25 March 2013 A study of Great Tits (Parus major) revealed a direct link between the health of the infants and the 'attractiveness' of their mother Better looking birds are more likely to have healthy offspring, scientists have learned.
Studies of female great tits' appearance, and the weight and immune strength of their chicks at two weeks, has revealed a direct link between the health of the infants and the 'attractiveness' of their mother. The study of the birds (parus major), was published in a paper in BioMed Central's open access journal Frontiers in Zoology. Researchers from Palacky University in the Czech Republic took two mothers with different patterning, and swapped their chicks. Vladimír Remeš and Beata Matysioková carried out the study. OYNK_83 : You really CAN set your clock by a cockerel: Researchers find the birds use their own internal clock to crow.
Cockerels crow at crack of dawn even in a windowless sound-proof roomScientists believe their behaviour is regulated by their internal clock By Nick Mcdermott Published: 16:02 GMT, 18 March 2013 | Updated: 00:31 GMT, 19 March 2013 If you have ever had an alarm clock fail to go off in the morning, it seems nature offers a much more reliable alternative. Cockerels will crow at the same time every day regardless of whether they can see dawn breaking, according to scientists.
Until now, it has not been known whether roosters make a din in response to the morning light or their own body clock. Researchers sat the Cockerel's crow is regulated by its own internal body clock - and does not rely on lighting conditions But scientists in Japan claim to have finally figured out what makes them tick. Scientists believe their behaviour is regulated by a circadian rhythm – the body’s own internal clock – rather than external triggers. Penguins In Antarctica At Serious Risk As Ice Melt Continues. CuteEmergency : follow the leader! Broadwas A44 shut for turkey rescue as lorry overturns. Monster double eggs laid by 'miracle chicken' in China – video | World news. Karincak : Bath Time by Michael Galloway... Hummingbird of the Amazon Rainforest, Brazil. Beija-flor…flower kissers. | earth2mother. Hummingbirds. Beija-flor….flower kissers. Hummingbirds were daily visitors to the lodge, but they kept their distance and were tiny so difficult to film, However they did provide some surprises.
They have long, thin, needle sharp, beaks used to dip into flowers for nectar. However, they can also use these little weapons for defence. I was walking in the forest with a young man one morning when suddenly a shimmering, green and turquoise object, like a jewelled bullet, shot straight at the young mans head. Photos of hummingbird, possibly a Green-breasted Mango (Anthracothorax prevostii) Taken from a distance the second shot shows how difficult it is to see them. Like this: Like Loading... Lynnyrobbo : The robin is always first on...
To attract pollinating birds, flowers go red. MONASH U. (AUS) — Flowers that once relied on insects for pollination have since changed their colors to be attractive to birds, biologists have discovered. New research has shown that certain Australian native flowers have shifted away from using insects as pollinators and evolved their flower color to the red hues favored by birds. In a study published in New Phytologist, biologists have shown for the first time that Australian native flowers exclusively pollinated by birds have evolved color spectral signatures that are best discriminated by those birds. Biologist Adrian Dyer of Monash University and RMIT University says previous studies had shown that flower color evolved to attract bees as pollinators. “We know that some flowers had evolved spectral signatures to suit bee pollinators, but the story for bird-pollinated flowers was not clear,” Dyer says.
“But in Asia and Africa, birds with a different type of color vision are the primary avian pollinators. Source: Monash University. Some flowers switched from bee pollinators to birds by changing color. KirstenHenry : Hope you're having a wonderful... Study uncovers albatross fishing grounds. Study uncovers albatross fishing grounds 1 March 2013, by Alison Smith A new model can predict the location of the most important fishing grounds for the black-browed albatross, helping conservationists to protect this endangered species.
Black-browed albatross. Albatrosses are one of our most iconic, yet most threatened birds, with 19 out of 22 species at risk of extinction. Tens of thousands are lured to their deaths each year as they scavenge behind fishing fleets. Attracted by the tempting meal of fish offal and discards, they end up swallowing the baited hooks trailed behind long-line boats, or colliding with trawler cables and breaking their wings. But if we can predict where the birds are likely to be fishing at different times of year, simple precautions such as temporary fishing exclusions or bans on discarding fish waste could reduce these deaths. But albatrosses range widely in search of food, flying up to 1000 kilometres in a single day.
P. Interesting? Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. Robin (Erithacus rubecula) Explore Feb 18th #350. Canary. Stunpics : King penguins with reflections... Photo by shazzle01. Twitter. Two heads are better than one...when it comes to love: Cranes captured in courtship dance. Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) Silver linings: chicken keeping in the snow. Video of birds trapped in fishing nets off Dorset coast. Totallywould : This is a South African... He died a hero! Cookie the cockatiel dies in house fire after saving teenager from bedroom blaze. The coolest bird around! Kingfisher dives through ice to catch fish from frozen pond. Turkey thinks it's a dog! Rescued bird loves going for walks, lives in a kennel and even BARKS. Love-Struck Peacock Saves a Turkey From the Dinner Table. FionaEwersPhoto : Well it hasn't been a fruitless... Birdmen of the German Stalags. Bird Watching Cat. Red Parrot at Omaha Zoo. Who's a naughty boy then? Foul-mouthed parrot who can't get adopted because of his rude language given etiquette lessons.
Earthflight (Winged Planet) - Peregrine Falcon Hunts Starlings in Rome (Narrated by David Tennant) A licence to kill Britain’s songbirds. Tarbu, the 55-year-old parrot, dies after signing off with a 'cheerio' Warwick Castle eagle escapes to rugby club. The riddle of Yorkshire's 'pigeon Bermuda Triangle' | Environment. Stray parrots cause a flap. Summer with Start Birding. Close up of Blue Tit by ~KSMacroShots on deviantART. Brainy Parrots Are Smarter Than Children. BBC Radio 4 Programmes - The Living World, Farne Island Puffins. American White Ibis in Fakahatchess Strand Preserve. Rare flamingo born after keepers play Barry White love songs to birds.
New bird species potentially discovered in Indonesia! | Burung-Nusantara / Birds-Indonesia. How parrots can solve problems that defeated monkeys and dogs. Field Sparrow in Song. Extinction risk factors for New Zealand birds today differ from those of the past. Cuckoo tricks to beat the neighborhood watch. Wildlife Garden Value of Trees for Wildlife. Goldfinch Togetherness - Hiding in the Wildflowers. Nature Watcher. Willets in Beaverhead County, Montana. Battle To Preserve The Ross Sea - science. Starling populations plummet in Kent.
Pigeons Navigate Using Brain Cells That Gauge Earth's Magnetic Fields, Scientists Say.