1. Hummingbirds can perceive colors that the human eye cannot, thanks to the addition of an extra cone in the hummingbird's eye that we don't possess, new research reveals. The findings, demonstrated in experiments with wild broad-tailed hummingbirds (Selasphorus platycercus) in Colorado, suggest that the ability to discriminate non-spectral colours (including ultraviolet wavelengths) could play a vital role in behaviors including mating, feeding, and evading predators. (via Science Alert)
2. A new study in The Auk: Ornithological Advances suggests that wildfires change the types of songs sung by birds living in nearby forests. The researchers found that song dialects tended to be isolated from each other within different forest types, but that in contrast, local song diversity increased with the amount of local fire and regional habitat. Using a longitudinal analysis of additional data from ten study areas revisited in 2019, the researchers showed that song structure had begun to change since the initial visits 5-10 years earlier, and that the diversity of song forms increased at locations that had been burned by wildfire between visits. Taken together the results suggest that wildfires, the mass effects of dispersal of birds singing rival song forms, and time all disrupt the uniformity of songs locally. (via Phys Org)
By Hap Ellis, Red-Shouldered Hawk.
3. Excerpt: We were about two hours north of Medellín, in a dairy farmer’s field, to spot just one kind of bird: the Antioquia brushfinch (Atlapetes blancae). The bird, endemic to Antioquia, one of the 32 regions Colombia calls departments, hadn’t been seen in 47 years. It was thought to be extinct—until, in 2018, an amateur birder rediscovered it in a town nearby. Birders aren’t just interested in the brushfinch because it’s rare. They know that the species is an indicator for the overall environmental health of Antioquia, and the natural resources that make the region one of the country’s most economically important. In order to save the bird, they’re going to have to take dramatic steps—which could improve quality of life for Antioquia’s residents and resuscitate its sputtering ecosystems. (via Quartz)
4. At the 36-acre salt marsh at Jacob’s Point in Warren, R.I., Deirdre Robinson wanders among three mist nets she sets up at dawn every morning from late May through mid-August in an effort to capture the rare saltmarsh sparrows that nest there. The birds are predicted to go extinct in the next 15 to 20 years, as rising sea levels flood marshes throughout their range along the East Coast. Robinson and a team of other volunteers are attempting to document the fate of every nest built and every egg laid. “They’re non-territorial, they prefer to run than fly, their breeding system is based on promiscuity, the female does all the nest building and feeding, and they don’t really even have a song, just a rudimentary whisper.” (via Eco RI News)
5. Owning a bird feeder as an adult has been incredible. While there are tons of options to choose from, a clear window feeder opens you up to another world of bird voyeurism. "Once you get a bird feeder, your life will change forever," Lauren D. Pharr, a graduate research assistant of fisheries, wildlife, and conservation biology at North Carolina State University, told me. I agree. Birds are beautiful, mysterious creatures that can fly in unison, sing exquisite songs, and dance to attract prospective mates. New Yorkers love to hate pigeons, but I think they’re stunning little weirdos who, despite possessing the gift of flight, sometimes choose to walk down the sidewalk like us neanderthals. For me, their cooing is an aural embodiment of peace. (via Wired)
6. Like most beginners, I sought the answer in fancy feeders and every manner of well-designed birdhouse — designed from a human aesthetic, that is, although not necessarily meeting bird specifications. Studying my growing collection of field guides on the life histories and diets of birds that I’d see — the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s All About Birds site and its online courses are good resources, as well — I reduced lawn areas to make room for native plants and to support more insects and, in turn, birds. Nearly every organism in the food web eats insects or eats someone who eats them — or benefits from the pollination services that insects provide. (via The New York Times)
By Hap Ellis, Prairie Warbler.
7. While some birds are born knowing how to sing innately, many need to be taught how to sing by adults -- just like humans. Those birds can develop regional dialects, meaning their songs sound slightly different depending on where they live. Think Boston and Georgia accents, but for birds. Just as speaking the local language can make it easier for humans to fit in, speaking the local bird dialect can increase a bird's chances of finding a mate. And, more ominously, just as human dialects can sometimes disappear as the world globalizes, bird dialects can be shaped or lost as cities grow. (via CNN)
8. Birds possess an extreme ability to regulate their own body temperature. On cold winter nights, they reduce their body temperature several degrees to save energy and increase their chances of survival. The disadvantage is that the birds become more lethargic, and there is a risk of becoming easier prey for predators. Now, researchers have shown that supplemental winter feeding is good for great tits, at least for females. The females that had access to extra food in winter did not reduce their body temperature at night as much as females who received no supplemental food. Among males, no difference in their body temperature response was noted. (via Science Daily)
Bird Photo of the Week
By Hap Ellis, Eastern Kingbird.
Bird Videos of the Week
By Cornell Lab of Ornithology, “A Call for Cooperation: Saving the Places Migratory Birds Call Home”.
Cornell Live Bird Cam, “Red-tailed Hawk Fledglings”.
Cornell Live Bird Cam, “Savannah Ospreys”.