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[gardengirl1]

From time to time we all find news articles and videos regarding new information regarding our avian friends.  This new thread is a place for you to share them.

From the Operation Migration Field Journal I found this interesting link about new developments in the UK  on identifying fingerprints on feathers. Scoundrels who shoot, injure , or illegally hunt birds may have met their match.

 http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-30802401

[jfrancl]

GG what a great idea for a new thread.  Thank you!   The article was genius, yet simple, just fingerprint the flight feathers!

[glogdog]

GG - love this new thread.  A great idea.  The fingerprints on feathers is a great article.  Interesting that it states the flight feathers have a tight weave which shows the prints up better.  This will be a very good thread!  Thanks for opening it up.

[glogdog]

Here's a very interesting article about the intelligence of birds:

http://www.pbs.org/lifeofbirds/brain/index.html

[glogdog]

And one more article from Audubon.  The oldest living African Penquin develeped not-so-common skin cancer.

http://www.audubonmagazine.org/articles/birds/world-s-oldest-african-penguin-fights-skin-cancer&utm_source=engagement&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2015-01-22_email_wingspan

[jfrancl]

Problem solving abilities of birds.

http://content.time.com/time/video/player/0,32068,490943046001_2009877,00.html

[jfrancl]

GG. cool article. This is a great thread!!

[Emyrauld]

 I came across this item just yesterday.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/manitoba-wildlife-centre-discovers-rescued-crow-can-talk-1.2934909

[Ginger52]

Recent research study at U of Iowa re: crows and abstract reasoning

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/crows-may-be-able-make-analogies

[T40cfr403]

I posted this in the Education thread back in December.  Now the data interpretations and earlier analyses are starting to trickle out (see the 3 links at the bottom).  One funny fact, at least I found it amusing, is that peregrine falcons are more closely related to parrots than hawks.  A parrot on steroids! 

Re: Bald Eagle Anatomy & Physiology
? Reply #32 on: December 12, 2014, 06:02:04 AM ?

This is big!  HUGE!  28 or 29 (!) papers are being published today, all publicly available, about a major accomplishment - the genome sequencing of 48 bird species, including eagles.

A flock of genomes:  http://www.sciencemag.org/content/346/6215/1308.short

Here's a summary of this incredible research.  'Big Bang' of bird evolution mapped: Genes reveal deep histories of bird origins, feathers, flight and song:  http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/12/141211142136.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Fplants_animals%2Fbirds+%28Birds+News+--+ScienceDaily%29

Of particular note was this:  What happens to species facing extinction or recovering from near-extinction? Birds are like the proverbial canaries in the coal mine because of their sensitivity to environmental changes that cause extinction. In a Genome Biology study led by Shengbin Li, Cheng Cheng and Jun Yu from Xi'an Jiaotong University and Jarvis, researchers analyzed the genomes of species that have recently gone nearly extinct, including the crested ibis in Asia and the bald eagle in the Americas. They found genes that break down environmental toxins have a higher rate of mutations in these species and there is lower diversity of immune system genes in endangered species. In a recovering crested ibis population, genes involved in brain function and metabolism are evolving more rapidly. The researchers found more genomic diversity in the recovering population than was expected, giving greater hope for species conservation.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/steve-zack/songbirds-carry-on-dinosa_b_6590672.html?utm_hp_ref=science&ir=Science

http://www.nature.com/news/tree-of-life-constructed-for-all-living-bird-species-1.11712

http://www.sci-news.com/genetics/science-genomes-48-bird-species-avian-family-tree-02340.html

[glogdog]

Here is some Bird News and a "new development" in New York City:

http://www.audubon.org/news/bald-eagles-come-big-apple

[Ginger52]

Pigeon power
A new University of Iowa study suggests similarity between how pigeons learn the equivalent of words and the way children do.

http://now.uiowa.edu/2015/02/pigeon-power

[T40cfr403]

Well, this isn't good.  The livers of apex predators, like bald eagles, around the world are loaded with flame retardants, which can be responsible for weird behavior and decreased reproductive success.

http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/news/2015/feb/michigan2019s-bald-eagles-full-of-flame-retardants

[glogdog]

Pigeon power
A new University of Iowa study suggests similarity between how pigeons learn the equivalent of words and the way children do.

http://now.uiowa.edu/2015/02/pigeon-power

What an interesting article, ginger. Thanks for sharing

Well, this isn't good.  The livers of apex predators, like bald eagles, around the world are loaded with flame retardants, which can be responsible for weird behavior and decreased reproductive success.

http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/news/2015/feb/michigan2019s-bald-eagles-full-of-flame-retardants

T40 - yet another example of how much impact humans can have on wildlife and not be aware of it.  Thanks for briniging this to our attention.

[glogdog]

gg - what am amazing young man Tristan Picotte is!  What an interesting, inspiring article!  I see him accomplishing wonderful things in his life and much in the name of saving species of animals.  He is compassionate and understands the challenges our world creates with the environment and wildlife.  I see him having a definite, positive, long-lasting impact, somehow in some way.

You and T-40 got me looking more closely at Environmental Health News and I zoned in on "Winged Warnings" articles.  Here's something interesting to read about deformed beaks appearing in Chickadees in Alaska and how it could be caused by a new virus. I hope they figure this one out for the sake of the birds:

http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/news/2014/aug/wingedwarnings6deformed-chickadees