Birds

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Birds of Australia … What bird can YOU spot?

Since it’s Aussie Bird Count this week – “The Aussie Bird Count is for all ages and involves observing and counting the birds that live near you, be it in your garden, the local park, the beach or even outside your office window! You don’t need to be an expert birder to take part — all you need is a little enthusiasm! ”   Here is a guide to the birds of Australia  source: pinterest...

Celebrating the vulture

International Vulture Awareness Day shines a spotlight on the highly important yet vastly misunderstood birds – vultures. Join the hundreds of organisers and thousands of participants that celebrated IVAD over the years to give these underappreciated guardians of nature a voice and drive meaningful conservation action....

Creature Feature | Australian bird, New Zealander too?

The Australasian swamphen (Porphyrio melanotus) is a species of swamphen (Porphyrio) occurring in eastern Indonesia), Papua New Guinea, and New Zealand. The New Zealand bird, known as the pūkeko, some believe to be a subspecies of the purple swamphen.   Establishment in New Zealand According to the Heather and Robertson Field Guide, the bird seems to have become established in New Zealand about 1000 years ago. According to Millener (1981), it invaded from Australia less than 1,000 years ago. It...

Q&A | Why do birds migrate?

On World Migratory Bird Day, we celebrate one of nature’s greatest wonders – bird migration. Twice a year, we marvel at this extraordinary spectacle as migratory birds undertake epic journeys around the globe, connecting and inspiring people along the way.   Why do birds migrate? Not all birds stay in the same place their whole lives. Some migrate to take advantage of seasonal resources, especially food, so that they can breed successfully or simply survive. Some migrations are short, but many...

World Penguin Day

  Penguins are sadly one of the most threatened groups of seabirds, with half of the 18 species listed by Birdlife as either Vulnerable or Endangered. While penguins are well adapted to their environments, human impacts are hitting their homes too hard and too fast for them to cope. The threats are numerous, including habitat loss, pollution, disease, and reduced food availability due to commercial fishing. Climate change is of particular concern for many species of penguin, as the sea...

Parrots of…. Australia & New Zealand

Australia is often referred to as the ‘land of parrots’ however the are some important parrots inhabiting Aotearoa / New Zealand …. Kakapo – flightless parrot ….. Kea – see my other posts on this magnificent alpine parrot   Kaka – endemic (occurs nowhere else) forest parrot  This from Department of Conservation : Threats Kākā require large tracts of forest to survive. Habitat loss from forest clearance for agriculture and logging have had a devastating effect. Browsing by introduced pests...

Australia Bird Count celebrates 10 years!!

The Aussie Bird Count is an activity for all-ages that involves observing and counting the birds that live near you – whether that’s in your garden, the local park, a beach or even your town centre. By telling us about the birds you’ve seen within a 20 minute period, you will help BirdLife Australia develop an understanding of local birds whilst getting to know the wildlife on your doorstep!  The 2023 Aussie Bird Count will be held from 16-22 October.   Part of the...

Creature Feature | Takake success story

The flightless takahē is a unique bird, a conservation icon and a survivor. Good news…. The Wellington (New Zealand ) population of Takahe have doubled…. The flightless takahē (South Island takahē; Porphyrio hochstetteri), is the world’s largest living rail (a family of small-medium sized ground-dwelling birds with short wings, large feet and long toes). The North Island takahē (moho; P. mantelli) is unfortunately extinct. Takahē have special cultural, spiritual and traditional significance to Ngāi Tahu, the iwi (Māori tribe) of...

World Migratory Bird Day….. WATER!

https://learnfromnaturetoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/WMBD-GLOBAL-Poster_all_logos_e.jpg World Migratory Bird Day campaign will focus on the topic of … water and its importance for migratory birds. Water is fundamental to life on our planet. The vast majority of migratory birds rely on aquatic ecosystems during their life cycles. Inland and coastal wetlands, rivers, lakes, streams, marshes, and ponds are all vital for feeding, drinking, or nesting, and also as places to rest and refuel during their long journeys. Unfortunately, aquatic ecosystems are becoming increasingly threatened around the...

WATER WEDNESDAY : Saving cranes for 50 years!

The International Crane Foundation celebrates 50 years of conservation of these magnificent creatures and their habitats. “The story of the International Crane Foundation began in 1971 at Cornell University with two students who shared a passion for cranes. Ornithology students Ron Sauey and George Archibald envisioned an organization that would combine research, captive breeding and reintroduction, landscape restoration and education to safeguard the world’s 15 crane species. Over nearly 50 years, we have developed unique collaborations and led effective community-based...

Friday Fact | World’s smallest bird

The Bee Hummingbird, which is found only in Cuba ( it’s “endemic” ) , is an absolute miniature, even among hummingbirds. It measures a mere two and a quarter inches long. They weigh less than two grams — less than a dime. ” Sometimes mistaken for a bumblebee, females measure about 61 mm from beak to tail and weigh 2.6 g while the slightly smaller male has an average length of 55 mm and weighs 1.95 g. This is believed...

Nature Q&A | How do birds sing?

Have you heard that beautiful calls of the dawn chorus? Or noticed that some birds can exactly mimic specific sounds such as  car alarms? Birds produce more complex sounds than any other animal. The physiology and acoustics of bird vocalisation are unique in the animal kingdom. Bronchial tubes When a bird breathes it takes in air through its bill, draws it in past its throat and into its windpipe (or trachea). The windpipe forks to carry some air to each of...

A to Z of Nature | Birds

  Total amazing what birds can do and what makes them special.. The total of discovered bird species is roughly 10,000, but there are some characteristics that are common regardless of what species you’re talking about. Creatures resembling modern birds first appeared 60 million years ago, but they’ve taken many evolutionary turns since then. In most cases, these features remain because they’ve proven to be beneficial across a variety of landscapes and for birds with otherwise unique physiologies. Birds developed...