Vampire finches: how little birds in the Galápagos evolved to drink blood
Finches have evolved to feed off blood from red-footed and Nazca boobies – and we've seen it first-hand.
yesterday • ~7 min
evolution birds natural-selection mutualism darwins-finches parasitism galapagos
Cities can help migrating birds on their way by planting more trees and turning lights off at night
Cities are danger zones for migrating birds, but there are ways to help feathered visitors pass through more safely
yesterday • ~9 min
birds migration trees citizen-science parks migratory-birds sustainable-cities light-pollution pavement urban-trees ebird
Vampire finches: how little birds in the Galápagos got a taste for big bird blood
Finches have evolved to feed off blood from red-footed and Nazca boobies – and we've seen it first-hand.
yesterday • ~7 min
evolution birds natural-selection mutualism darwins-finches parasitism galapagos
What to feed ducks – according to science
Your local ducks (and other wild birds) will thank you.
Jan. 5, 2021 • ~6 min
birds food nutrition ducks parks urban-wildlife ponds bread wild-animals
From permafrost microbes to survivor songbirds – research projects are also victims of COVID-19 pandemic
Three scientists describe the fieldwork they've had to delay in 2020 because of the pandemic. These are setbacks not just for their careers, but for the body of scientific knowledge.
Dec. 7, 2020 • ~10 min
climate-change covid-19 birds pandemic permafrost microbiology research scientific-research scientists covid-19-pandemic field-research fieldwork svalbard songbirds united-nations-framework-convention-on-climate-change
Flightless birds were more common before human-driven extinctions – new study
Evolution towards flightlessness has been much more common through history than scientists once thought.
Dec. 2, 2020 • ~6 min
birds extinction bird-flight dodo moa
How do geese know how to fly south for the winter?
Geese honk loudly and point their bills toward the sky when they're ready to start the migration. Here's how they know it's time, how they navigate and how they conserve energy on the grueling trip.
Nov. 16, 2020 • ~8 min
birds migration ornithology curious-kids curious-kids-us feathers migratory-birds bird-migration animal-navigation flying geese magnetic-compass drafting fall magnetic-north bird-flight
Scientists at work: Sloshing through marshes to see how birds survive hurricanes
Birds found along the Gulf Coast have evolved to ride out hurricanes and tropical storms. But with development degrading the marshes where they live, it's getting harder for them to bounce back.
Oct. 28, 2020 • ~9 min
climate-change birds ecology mississippi sea-level-rise hurricanes scientists-at-work tropical-storms coastal-development marshes wetlands gulf-coast alabama
Giant 'toothed' birds flew over Antarctica 40 million to 50 million years ago
Paleontologists have discovered fossil remains belonging to an enormous 'toothed' bird that lived for a period of about 60 million years after dinosaurs.
Oct. 27, 2020 • ~7 min
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Curious Kids: How did some animals evolve wings to fly?
Today's birds evolved from feathered dinosaurs.
Oct. 22, 2020 • ~5 min
evolution birds dinosaurs feathered-dinosaurs curious-kids
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