This week in birds - #536

A roundup of the week's news of birds and the environment: 

Pine Siskins are among my favorite winter visitors. 

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Coal is economically outmatched by renewable sources of energy. It is more expensive to keep coal-fired power plants running than it is to build new wind or solar plants.

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Six western states that rely on water from the Colorado River have agreed on a model to cut their use of water in the basin, but so far California is the one hold-out state that has not agreed.

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It's a unique partnership: Bottlenose dolphins help Brazilian fishermen pull their catch in.

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Why do bears rub against trees? It seems that there may be more to it than simply scratching an itch.

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The EPA has blocked the Pebble mine project in Alaska, a move that will protect a valuable salmon fishery.

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A black bear was apparently fascinated by a wildlife motion-activated camera near Boulder, Colorado, and ended up taking hundreds of "selfies." 

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It's been an unusual winter in New York City. The city will set a record for its longest stretch in winter without measurable snowfall.

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This beautiful shorebird, the American Avocet, is the American Bird Conservancy's Bird of the Week.

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An extinct species of the elephant was a major source of calories for the Neanderthals.

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The big news in the sky this week has been the passage of a green-hued comet past Earth and the sun for the first time in about 50,000 years.

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Is it possible to bring back a species that has gone extinct? Some scientists think so and they want to try to do it with the Tasmanian tiger, a species that went extinct in the 1930s. 

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Marshes in Iraq that have nourished communities since the dawn of civilization are drying up leading to further displacement of people in this region of conflict.

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Sturgeons have survived in America's rivers for millions of years but now they are disappearing. Will humans be the death of this ancient species?

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It's a rare partnership in Nature: The world's only black-furred bunnies distribute the seeds of a parasitic plant through their droppings.

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"Microrewilding" in urban areas can provide a lifeline to Nature and enhance biodiversity.

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A new conservancy in southeast British Columbia will protect a globally endangered rainforest with cedar trees. 

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This grumpy-looking wildcat is a Pallas's cat, a rare and remarkable species that has been confirmed to be living on Mount Everest.

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The thousands of Starlings that call Rome their home perform amazing aerial acrobatics that can mesmerize watchers, but what they leave behind at their night roosts is a lot less mesmerizing and a lot more problematic. 


Comments

  1. David M. Gascoigne,February 4, 2023 at 5:31 AM

    Good morning, Dorothy. I grabbed a coffee a while ago and settled in for the long read. Getting to your blog is akin to weekend therapy. Microrewilding is a trend I hope will catch on. Some years ago we totally naturalized our yard, front and back, and the native species we have planted have provided a little wildlife oasis. The diversity in a suburban backyard is quite remarkable. I have noticed a trend that homeowners are reducing the area occupied by lawns (green deserts) and that's a good sign. I have been reading of dire cold in Texas. I hope that you have not suffered. With my very best wishes - David.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dorothy BordersFebruary 4, 2023 at 10:08 AM

      West Texas suffered some pretty cold temperatures this week, but here in Southeast Texas, our daytime temperatures have been in the 60-70 degree Fahrenheit range and nighttime in the 40s. (As you may have heard, it is a big state.)

      Delete
  2. Deb Nance at ReaderbuzzFebruary 4, 2023 at 6:07 AM

    Just yesterday I was finally able to differentiate between a Pine Warbler and a Goldfinch. I didn't realize that Pine Siskins are similar to Goldfinches, too.

    That American Avocet is magnificent. So much beauty in one bird!

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    Replies
    1. Dorothy BordersFebruary 4, 2023 at 10:11 AM

      Pine Siskins and winter American Goldfinches are very similar indeed and often flock together. And I couldn't agree more about the American Avocet - truly one of the most beautiful of our shorebirds.

      Delete
  3. CathyFebruary 8, 2023 at 1:31 PM

    Lots to read, as usual. The highlights: (1) It doesn't surprise me one bit that California is the hold-out on the Colorado River water situation. (2) The selfie-loving bear made me laugh, and (3) The article on microrewilding really captured my interest. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.

    ReplyDelete

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