All articles tagged with #bird conservation
Research at Michigan State University shows that installing kestrel nesting boxes in Northern Michigan cherry orchards helps reduce crop damage and food safety risks by deterring pest birds and decreasing bird droppings, offering an eco-friendly alternative to traditional bird control methods.
New Zealand is using advanced technology, including AI and genetic research, to combat invasive predators and save its rare native birds like the kākāpō and takahē, aiming for complete predator eradication by 2050 through innovative and costly methods.
Colossal Biosciences has made a significant breakthrough in their effort to genetically engineer a dodo-like bird by successfully culturing primordial germ cells from pigeons, a key step towards potentially recreating the extinct species, though experts caution that true de-extinction remains scientifically complex and controversial.
The article reviews the best bird song and identification apps in 2025, highlighting options like Merlin Bird ID, Smart Bird ID, Chirpomatic, Picture Bird, Audubon Bird Guide, and BirdNET, each suited for different user needs such as learning, beginner use, North American focus, or citizen science. These apps utilize AI, sound, and image recognition to help users identify bird species, enhance birding experiences, and contribute to conservation efforts, with considerations on their accuracy and features.
Flaco, the beloved Eurasian eagle-owl who gained fame after escaping the Central Park Zoo, has died in a collision with a building on the Upper West Side of New York City. The Wild Bird Fund suspects that Flaco may have struck a window, and the owl has been taken to the Bronx Zoo for a necropsy. Flaco's escape and subsequent thriving in the city made him a symbol of freedom and resilience, but his death highlights the dangers that urban wildlife face, with thousands of birds being killed in building collisions each year in New York City.
Avian flu, specifically highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), poses a grave threat to the critically endangered California condors. In a recent outbreak, nearly 20% of the Southwest California condor population in Arizona and Utah vanished. Recognizing the potential devastation, the US Fish and Wildlife Service has requested emergency use of an avian flu vaccine to inoculate condors in case of another outbreak. This would be the first time avian flu vaccines are used on birds in the US. The hope is to prevent further losses and protect one of the country's most endangered species.
Catia Lattouf, a 73-year-old woman in Mexico City, has transformed her apartment into a clinic for sick, injured, and infant hummingbirds. Over the past decade, she has nursed hundreds of these tiny birds back to health, becoming a reference source for bird lovers across Mexico and Latin America. Lattouf's improvised clinic supports formal institutions and provides care for hummingbirds that have been injured or orphaned. Despite the threats hummingbirds face in the city, Lattouf remains optimistic and continues her mission to save and rehabilitate these delicate creatures.
Catia Lattouf, a 73-year-old woman in Mexico City, has transformed her apartment into a makeshift clinic for sick, injured, and infant hummingbirds. Over the past decade, she has nursed hundreds of these tiny birds back to health, becoming a reference source for bird lovers across Mexico and Latin America. Lattouf's clinic supports formal institutions like Mexico's National Autonomous University, and she never turns away a bird in need. Her work has gained attention on social media, leading to an increase in demand for her services.
The National Audubon Society has decided to keep the name of John James Audubon, despite calls to remove it due to his history as a slave owner and opponent of abolition. The decision was made after a year of deliberation and surveys of public opinion. While some local chapters have pledged to drop Audubon from their names, the national organization believes the name has come to represent a love of birds and nature. The decision highlights the challenge of reconciling a racist past with a history that has made "Audubon" a household name associated with protecting birds.