We had been birding the Belizean tropical jungle for days, when a new phenomenon greeted us one dawn morning: clouds of butterflies congregating around the ground. Up until then, we had been seeing that same species, the Dark Kite-swallowtail butterfly, flying around all week. One or two, here and there, on flowers–like usual. […]
via Thirsty Butterflies — Jet Eliot
Global Big Day 2019: the biggest day in birding By Team eBird May 8, 2019 On 4 May, 32,500 people ventured outside in 171 countries, finding 6,816 species: 2/3rds of the world’s bird species in a single day. This is a new world record for the number of people birding on a single day.
via Global Big Day Birding Totals — Natural History Wanderings
[John Vidal/HUFFPOST/15 de marzo del 2019] A three-year UN-backed study from the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform On Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services has grim implications for the future of humanity. Nature is in freefall and the planet’s support systems are so stretched that we face widespread species extinctions and mass human migration unless urgent action is taken. […]
Birdlife Magazine reports Hailed for its intelligence and majesty, the Egyptian Vulture was admired and worshipped throughout history. But decimated by poisoning, electrocution and illegal trophy hunting, the bird that was once an Ancient Egyptian hieroglyph is now Endangered. Can we save it before it’s too late? Read story at World’s only tool-using vulture risks being […]
via World’s Only Tool-using Vulture Risks Being Lost Forever — Natural History Wanderings
The Telegraph reports The self-proclaimed “Pablo Escobar of the falcon egg trade” is facing another lengthy jail sentence after being caught at Heathrow airport with a stash of 19 rare eggs strapped to his chest. He had arrived in London from South Africa carrying two rare vulture eggs as well as others from rare and endangered birds […]
via Prolific Bird Smuggler Arrested with 19 Rare Eggs at Heathrow Airport — Natural History Wanderings
India has faced man-animal conflict for decades. But the culling of these animals only reinforces the lack of a mechanism to address the issue. – Manu Balachandran India is at war with its wildlife. Over the past few months, authorities have declared, or sought to declare, as vermin an entire bunch of wild animals that are […]
via India is at war with its wildlife – Manu Balachandran — Bharata Bharati
by Francie Diep as published on the Pacific Standard “One webpage, now removed, touted the current policies’ successes—and praised the bird’s mating dances…” As the federal government was gathering public input on changes to its plans for conserving an endangered Western bird, it removed webpages describing its current policies, inherited from the previous administration, an […]
