birds
grrlscientist | November 1, 2007This short streaming radio report, presented by The Onion, tells how Microsoft was recently sold to crows. Includes an exclusive interview with the spokescrow.
retrospectacle | November 1, 2007Sure, you've seen the cockatoo that gets down to the Backstreet Boys, but have you seen the African Grey that tears it up to techno?
The Techno Parrot - Watch more free videos
I don't understand this dancing bird phenomonon. Don't parrots dance to any *decent* music? Pepper doesn't like really loud music and I've never seen him jumping around like a bird possessed in response to the TV or anything. Do your parrots dance? If so, let's start a campaign to only let them listen to worthwhile music!
Hat tip Ted!
grrlscientist | October 31, 2007tags: halloween, parrots, birds, Image of the Day
This picture is a departure from my normal "image of the day" fare, but it is cute, so I hope you all can forgive me for sharing it with you.
Image: Image source [Larger size].
grrlscientist | October 31, 2007The little hawk-headed parrot is settling in fairly well. (S)he is rather cautious about me, reminding me, by flying away whenever the opportunity presents itself, that I am not the human that (s)he is familiar with. This will pass soon enough, though.
This bird is is good flesh, but is not yet eating on her (his?) own even though I give her(him?) a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables as well as a seed mix, so I am handfeeding her twice per day; once in the morning and then again in the evening. The food is a powder that I mix with water (five parts water to one part food) and is fed…
grrlscientist | October 30, 2007tags: birds, Deroptyus a. accipitrinus, hawk-headed parrot, red-fan parrot, Image of the Day
This is a picture of my new roommate, a young hawk-headed (red-fan) parrot, Deroptyus a. accipitrinus. This bird was captive born and raised. This picture was taken last week, so it gives you a good idea of what the bird looks like right now.
Image: Andrea Wiebolt [Larger size].
grrlscientist | October 29, 2007tags: Irene Pepperberg, Alex, African grey parrot, streaming video
Alex was a famous African grey parrot who could count to six, identify colors and even express frustration with repetitive scientific trials. He died about five weeks ago, after 30 years of helping researchers better understand the avian brain. This streaming video below the fold has a wonderful tribute to Alex and his many talents. [2:39]
grrlscientist | October 29, 2007tags: birds, Deroptyus a. accipitrinus, hawk-headed parrot, red-fan parrot, Image of the Day
This is a picture of my new roommate, a young hawk-headed (red-fan) parrot, Deroptyus a. accipitrinus. This bird was captive born and raised. This picture was taken when the bird was only seven weeks old, and was growing her(his?) first feathers. (S)he is five months and four days old today.
Image: Andrea Wiebolt.
When you see this picture appear on my blog, I will be at JFK airport, picking up this bird from the airlines, and heading back home on the subway.
grrlscientist | October 29, 2007tags: Birds in the News, BirdNews, ornithology, birds, avian, newsletter
Falconer Geoff Clayton with eight-year-old golden eagle Shirko as they attend the Inter-Governmental Conference on Migratory Birds of Prey in Loch Lomond.
Image: PA [larger view]
Birds in Science
The ability to ramp up testosterone levels drives certain male sparrows to mate, but also makes them bad dads, a new study suggests. Researchers had thought that the total amount of testosterone might determine the mating habits and aggressive tendencies of male dark-eyed juncos, a type of sparrow. But the new study of juncos…
grrlscientist | October 28, 2007tags: flamingos, Ciconiiformes, Phoenicopterus ruber, birds, Image of the Day
Is this image photoshopped? (You can blow it up for a closer look, if you like). If it is photoshopped, someone sure did a good job.
Image: Robert B. Haas/National Geographic [wallpaper size]
grrlscientist | October 24, 2007tags: Secretary bird, Sagittarius serpentarius, Africa, birds, Image of the Day
Secretary bird, Sagittarius serpentarius.
Image: Basia Kruszewska, author of India Ink. [larger view]
The photographer writes: Mix the face of an eagle with the legs of a stork, and you have the Secretary bird.
This peculiar bird could be seen strutting throughout Kenya's Masai Mara. It gets its name from the feathers sticking up from its head, which resemble quill pens. It is able to fly, but rarely does so, preferring to prowl the grassland looking for its favorite meal, snakes.
grrlscientist | October 23, 2007tags: Black-necked weaver, Ploceus nigricollis, Africa, birds, Image of the Day
Black-necked weaver, Ploceus nigricollis.
Image: Basia Kruszewska, author of India Ink. [Wallpaper size]
grrlscientist | October 22, 2007tags: Birds in the News, BirdNews, ornithology, birds, avian, newsletter
A pair of Moluccan Red Lories, Eos bornea rothschildi (upper right and lower left (upside down)), and a pair of Rainbow Lorikeet, Trichoglossus haematodus haematodus (center; one bird is hanging upside down), near the north coast of Seram, Indonesia.
Image: Kevin Sharp [wallpaper size].
Birds in Science
The ability to ramp up testosterone levels drives certain male sparrows to mate, but also makes them bad dads, a new study suggests. Researchers had thought that the total amount of testosterone might determine the…
aaronrowe | October 22, 2007
According to the Indianapolis News a man and his son were awakened by their pet bird as their home caught fire. Their Amazon parrot, Peanut, began making a smoke detector noise while a real smoke detector was going off. The father credits his avian friend with making enough noise to alert him.
I tend to write off stories about animals saving people as wishful thinking on the part of reporters and pet lovers. But in this case, I would not be the least bit surprised to learn that a parrot is considerably louder than a fire alarm.
Don't forget to vote for Shelley!
grrlscientist | October 18, 2007tags: I and the Bird, blog carnival
The 60th edition of the blog carnival, I and the Bird is now available for your reading pleasure. This one, as usual, is huge. I am so astonished at how this particular blog carnival has taken off and become so popular among birders. I am pleased that they included a submission of mine, but somewhat dismayed to know that most people are kinda scared off by the topic. Hey, I think you should read it; it's actually a very well-written piece! I promise!
grrlscientist | October 17, 2007tags: dancing cockatoo, streaming video
Snowball is a medium sulphur crested Eleanora cockatoo and he loves to dance and sing. He loves the Back Street Boys. No one taught Snowball to dance ... he just heard this song and suddenly felt like dancing. We're all jealous because he can outdance each one of us ... nobody likes a show off! When he's really in the mood, he dances and sings. And at the end of the performance he takes a bow or two or twenty!! Enjoy the show. [1:17]
Thanks EVERYONE for sending this video to me during the past few days!
grrlscientist | October 16, 2007tags: researchblogging.org, blue feathers, Tyndall scattering, Rayleigh light scattering, schemochromes, white feathers
A pair of hyacinthine macaws, Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus.
Image: The Guardian.
Most avian plumage colors are the result of different types of pigments that are deposited into feathers while they are regrowing after moult. However, pigments alone do not produce all avian feather colors. Blues, such as those seen in hyacinthine macaws, Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus, and white, such as the snowy color of Bali mynahs, Leucopsar rothschildi, typically result from small changes…
grrlscientist | October 15, 2007tags: Birds in the News, BirdNews, ornithology, birds, avian, newsletter
Male SincoraÌ Antwren,
Formicivora grantsaui.
Potentially a new bird species that was recently discovered in Brazil.
Image: Sidnei Sampaio. [larger view].
Birds in Science
When male birds know they're about to get it on, that action is more likely to spawn a bigger brood of eggs compared to spontaneous copulation, a new study finds. Previous studies have shown that when two male birds mate with a female in a competition to pass on their genetic material, they end in a draw and both become fathers to an equal number…
grrlscientist | October 14, 2007tags: Spoonbill Sandpiper, Eurynorhynchus pygmeus, birds, ornithology, endangered species, Image of the Day
Spoonbill Sandpiper chick, Eurynorhynchus pygmeus.
(Read a story about this species in tomorrow's edition of Birds in the News -- issue 101).
Image: J. O'Sullivan [Wallpaper size]
Thanks, Grace!
sheril | October 11, 2007Okay you two legged mutants... Chris and Sheril don't know I'm laptop side again. He's off, I don't know, probably writing about elephants' rear ends (frankly I never understood why all you humans got so excited over that book - with a name like 'Mooney', what did you expect?) And Sheril's likely blogging somewhere else or playing with sea cucumbers. So while they're away, this conure will play and I'm infiltrating The Intersection with good reason...
I've noticed Sheril and Chris have been going with a Hillary theme much of the week and realized to my horror they left out one very…