1. We begin with a Mother’s Day tribute to some cool Australian birds: In the human fascination with birds, it’s the flashy appearance and antics of males that get the most attention from researchers and the public. From their colourful plumage to elaborate songs and courtship displays, male birds often steal the show. This has led to female birds routinely being overlooked by conservation planners. First, let’s clear up a few misconceptions. At least 70% of female birds sing – a fact historically overlooked due to research and survey biases towards males. And while many female birds have more muted colours than males, there are numerous examples of females with brilliant plumage. The capacity of female birds to rear and protect their young is phenomenal. Somehow, they manage to hold their families together despite predators, harsh conditions and sometimes, a less-than-attentive partner. (via The Conversation)
2. Another concerning study on bird populations globally: Staggering declines in bird populations are taking place around the world. Climate change is identified as an emerging driver of bird population declines in the study, “State of the World’s Birds.” The study finds approximately 48% of existing bird species worldwide are known or suspected to be undergoing population declines. Populations are stable for 39% of species. Only 6% are showing increasing population trends, and the status of 7% is still unknown. The study reviewed changes in avian biodiversity using data from the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s “Red List” to reveal population changes among the globe’s 11,000 bird species. The findings mirror the results of a groundbreaking 2019 study which determined that nearly 3 billion breeding birds have been lost during the past 50 years across the United States and Canada. (via Cornell Chronicle)
3. The Oriole Genome: Between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains lies the open expanse of the Great Plains, originally a grassland ecosystem dominated by fire and bison. Today the bison are all but gone, the fires have been suppressed, and much of the grass has been plowed up and replaced by agriculture. Yet the Great Plains still form an ecological barrier between the forests of the eastern and western United States—and their bird populations. Indigo and Lazuli Buntings, Eastern and Spotted Towhees, Rose-breasted and Black-headed Grosbeaks: All of these eastern-and-western complementary pairs of bird species can hybridize when they encounter each other, sometimes producing fertile offspring and confusing generations of birdwatchers and ornithologists trying to sort out where one species ends and another begins. (via Living Bird Magazine)
4. You looking at me?: A rare shoebill stork has been pictured in Uganda's swamps on the fringes of Lake Victoria. Cameron Scott, a wildlife photographer, captured the incredible transfixing gaze of a bird famed for its basilisk-like death stare. With an enormous foot-long bill and standing almost 5ft tall, the large bird is capable of catching fish a metre in length, large snakes and even small crocodiles. Mr Scott, owner of Royal Ngala Safaris, took the incredible images in April in Uganda's Mabamba swamps. In a post on Instagram, he wrote: "It's been a dream of mine to capture the famous death stare of the Shoebill stork for many years.” The shoebill is a critically-endangered bird, with its global population currently estimated at between 5,000 and 8,000. (via The Telegraph)
5. Must-See: Many birders chase warblers come spring, but the best show in the bird world starting in March might be on the grassy plains, where grouse perform eye- and ear-catching displays: Leaps and glides that would make a modern dancer swoon, booms and pops worthy of an orchestral percussion section, and runway-ready attire that glows and transforms in the subdued light of a prairie dawn. Five North American species of grassland grouse gather in groups during the breeding season to dance on leks—open areas of ground where males display for females. And many public and private organizations offer access and tours to viewing blinds during the height of grouse lekking activity, giving birders a front-row seat to the show. (via Living Bird Magazine)
6. Welcome back: The distinctive sight and sound of a Dartford warbler singing from the top of a sprig of gorse in the May sunshine is making a welcome comeback after the bird almost became extinct half a century ago. Dartford warblers suffered a population crash and were at risk of vanishing from the UK in the 1960s, largely because of loss of the lowland heathland they thrive in. But the RSPB is reporting the highest recorded number of Dartford warblers – 183 pairs – at its reserves including RSPB Arne in Dorset and RSPB Minsmere in Suffolk. As well as needing the cover provided by gorse, the bird is susceptible to harsh weather and was almost wiped out in the big freeze of 1962-3 but recent milder weather has helped it to bounce back. The population has recovered in recent years and by 2019, 23 pairs were found at the Minsmere coastal reserve; the figures show that there are now 37 pairs there. (via The Guardian, BBC, RSBC)
7. Update on the Berkeley Peregrines: The final brood of Annie and Grinnell, UC Berkeley's famous peregrine falcons, has begun hatching on top of the university Campanile. The new chicks began arriving on Thursday morning, monitored and announced by the dedicated ornithologists of @calfalconcam on Twitter. The hatchlings, when they first emerge, look like tiny meat sacks with a few sparse white feathers. Annie is continuing to incubate the two remaining eggs while also keeping the new chick safe and warm. The hatchling's two siblings are expected to arrive over the next 24 hours. But the trio is expected to consume the attention of falcon fans and UC Berkeley's ornithologists as they mature over the next 40 days or so. (via KQED News)
8. Mud pies needed: The RSPB is urging the public to get their hands dirty this weekend and create mud pies to help endangered birds such as house martins, swifts and swallows get enough sludge to build their nests. A nine-day mini-heatwave is hitting the UK, which coincides with the return of migratory birds here to breed. Many of these birds have flown thousands of miles on their journey. But conservationists are concerned that the ground is getting so hard it could stop them from being able to make their nests. By leaving out dishes of mud mixed with water, or creating little puddles in the garden, the public can make a big difference. (via The Guardian)
9. Piping plovers v SpaceX: The habitat of an endangered bird found only on North American coastlines could fall by half near SpaceX's Texas rocket test site if it is expanded, putting the planned enlargement in question. The expansion of Elon Musk’s Starship launch site in Boca Chica, Texas, which has yet to get approval from the Federal Aviation Authority, has come under scrutiny over its possible impact on the critical habitat of the piping plover bird—whose population in the area has fallen by half since SpaceX's arrival—as well as the impact it could have on the nearby habitats of the red knot bird and two breeds of wildcat—ocelots and jaguarundis. Explosions, heat plumes, blast overpressure, falling debris, noise, and other issues could be behind the plover's population drop. Of the 903.65 acres of “critical habitat” for the piping plover that surround Boca Chica, 446.27 would be lost as a result of SpaceX’s activities. (via Fortune)
10. A sacred Ibis perhaps?: An ancient Egyptian bird mummy, long forgotten in storage and mislabeled as a hawk, is finally getting its due now that researchers have digitally peered inside its wrappings. The 1,500-year-old mummy, scientists learned, is not a hawk but likely a sacred ibis (Threskiornis aethiopica) — a wading bird with stilt-like legs and a long curved beak that the ancient Egyptians often sacrificed to Thoth, the god of the moon, reckoning, learning and writing. "Not only was this once a living creature that people of the day may have enjoyed watching stroll through the water," Carol Ann Barsody, a masters student in archaeology at Cornell University, who spearheaded the project, said in a statement. "It also was, and is, something sacred, something religious." (via Live Science, Cornell)
11. 113 million years ago: Paleontologists studying a well-preserved head crest belonging to a species of pterosaurs say the flying reptile may have sported colorful feathers 113 million years ago. The soft tissue specimen preserved on slabs of ancient limestone in Brazil may demonstrate that the winged reptiles had the plumage earlier than previously thought, and could shed light on the evolutionary history of feathers. Previous research has found that some dinosaurs sported feathers, and other scientists have found pycnofibers or fur-like structures that may become feathers in some pterosaur specimens. However, it was unknown if pterosaurs had actual feathers, and it is a hotly debated topic. The new fossil discovery, detailed in a Nature paper this week, could shed some light on the debate. (via Smithsonian Magazine)
12. And finally a fun piece for fans of the New York Times’ Spelling Bee: For many game fans, the critical word is “obscure.” Jargon is a universal construct. Dive into any job or hobby or become familiar with any culture, or subculture, and you will inevitably develop a specialized lexicon that confuses outsiders. Bird people have their own unique dictionary—the most obvious entries being the names of birds themselves. Knowing about birds can confer an advantage at all kinds of word puzzles, whether in Spelling Bee or a classic game of Scrabble. But it also can be frustrating when a bird that you know isn’t valid. Keep reading for a close look at some avian strategy for several popular word games. For puzzle fans who don’t know much about birds, you may gain an extra edge and hopefully a greater appreciation for the wide spectrum of avian diversity. And for bird fans who like puzzles, prepare to have opinions. (via Audubon)
Bird Photo of the Week
Photo by Hap Ellis, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Boston, MA.
Bird Videos of the Week
Video by Birdy Official, “Bird Feeding Babies: Mother Sparrow”.
Cornell Live Bird Cam - Hawk Chicks.
Cornell Liie Bird Cam - American Kestrel Egg Watch.