This week in birds - #584

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

A Killdeer views the world from atop a fallen log.

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The headline said that scientists are divided regarding the climate crisis and I'm thinking, "When were scientists ever NOT divided and how is that the headline?"

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There's no division over the fact that last year was the hottest year on record.

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Our plant hardiness zones are changing.

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The fossilized remains of the earliest known forest have been found. 

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And in news of human fossils, a site in Ethiopia has revealed the oldest known arrowheads. They are from 74,000 years ago. 

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In the state of Washington, a woman on a biking trip was attacked by a cougar. Fortunately, her friends were able to rescue her from the cat's jaws.

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In Slovakia, it is bears that have been attacking people. Five people have been injured in attacks this week.

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The Philippine Eagle is an endangered species with an estimated population of fewer than 400 breeding pairs left in the wild.

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An Iceland volcano is once again pumping out a cloud of toxic gas across Europe.

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In other volcano news, 74,000 years ago a supervolcano located on what is now Sumatra, erupted, sending microscopic shards of glass over a wide area.

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Georgia may still okay a titanium mine on the edge of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge but it won't be able to do it without a fight.

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Bats are essential to the production of several foods and drinks that humans like quite a lot, so it's not good news for them or us that the critters are in trouble.

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Another animal that needs our attention for their survival is the koala.

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Not all wildlife benefited from the decrease in human activity during the pandemic.

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Rio de Janeiro recently hit a record heat index of 144.1 degrees Fahrenheit.

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The Yurok Tribe of California will be managing tribal lands in coordination with the National Park Service under a new agreement.

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This is a Zebra Finch. It turns out that the female of the species has a highly developed ability to discern among songs from the various males of the species.

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Climate change is making heat waves, like the one recently suffered by West Africa, much worse. 

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A well-preserved village from 3,000 years ago has been uncovered by archaeologists in eastern England.

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Wildfires in Canada have given Canadians even worse quality air to breathe than their neighbors south of the border.

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Afghanistan is suffering through years of a punishing drought.

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Scotland had pledged to cut emissions by 75% by 2030 but that no longer seems possible.

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Cupid the Peacock was shot with an arrow, but thanks to his human neighbors, that was not the end of the story. 

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Our favorite Muppet, Kermit the Frog, now has a prehistoric amphibian named for him.