Creatures in the news — winged, four-footed, cute or scary
AMAZING story on duping condor parents….
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/16/science/condors-zoos-breeding.html
Some Covid pandemic fall-out in the animal kingdom..
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/08/science/anthropause-pandemic-animals.html?smid=url-share
from the link…
est lockdowns, the animals’ long-distance movements over a 10-day period increased by 73 percent, the researchers found, suggesting that the animals were ranging more widely and expanding their habitats. “Animals were able to go about their business without having to worry about where the humans were,” said Marlee Tucker, an ecologist at Radboud University in the Netherlands and an author of the new study.“Because for a lot of species, humans are seen as risky.”
On shorter time scales, however, the mammals seemed more inclined to stay put; their top travel distances in any given hour were shorter than in 2019. That could be a sign that the animals were less likely to encounter people or cars that caused them to flee, the researchers said. In the most human-dominated habitats, the animals were also 36 percent closer to roads during the shutdowns, they found.
In the Department of Ain’t Nature Grand….
| Dolphins sleep with one eye open. |
| “Metallica lyrics notwithstanding, most humans would find it impossible to sleep with one eye open. Dolphins, on the other hand, can’t sleep any other way. That’s because, unlike us, they don’t breathe automatically and have to remain conscious in order to do so actively. The solution to this predicament is called unihemispheric slow-wave sleep, in which one half of the brain rests while the other remains awake. When the right half of a dolphin’s brain is sleeping, its left eye is closed, and vice versa; they periodically alternate which side of the brain is asleep in order to rest fully while retaining consciousness. While sleeping, dolphins may rest motionless or swim slowly and steadily near the water’s surface. “Dolphins aren’t the only species with strange sleeping patterns. A number of their fellow sea creatures, from beluga whales to sea lions, also exhibit unihemispheric sleep. On the extra adorable end of the spectrum are otters, who float belly-up and often hold hands with one another so as to not drift apart while snoozing. Great Frigatebirds, meanwhile, sleep in 10-second bursts while remaining airborne for as long as two months at a time. And, like dolphins, they do it with one eye open.” |
Formerlyjerseyjack said:
This guy was on the trail. Sunrise Mountain, 6/19.
that really looks scary!
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/21/science/monarch-butterflies-spots-wings.html
I actually saw my first monarch only yesterday! I invested in another butterfly bush for my garden, so I hope to see many more.
And cruising used to be my favorite vacation!
https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/the-cetacean-threat-spreads/
@mtierney, I thought of you especially when I read this:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-65259426
Hachiko: The world's most loyal dog turns 100
such a heartwarming tale of loyalty and devotion…what a good boy!
joanne said:
@mtierney, I thought of you especially when I read this:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-65259426
Hachiko: The world's most loyal dog turns 100
such a heartwarming tale of loyalty and devotion…what a good boy!
animals offer unconditional love, asking in return only a bed, a bowl, and your presence in return. Toys are good, too! Cats need adoration however.
Has news of Neil the seal reached you? He seems quite friendly, really.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-11-14/neil-the-seal-stops-tasmanian-woman-getting-to-work/103102090
So ‘taking a sickie’ is claiming a sick leave day off work, but not really being sick. (Possibly you’re hungover, or just feeling bleh) OTOH, seals are protected and you can’t hurt or disturb them.
An earlier story about Neil, from July: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-07-29/neil-the-seal-growing-internet-fame/101272930 Remember July is our winter, and quite chilly in Tasmania then.
thanks for resurrecting this thread, Joanne.
July 2, 2023, a lifetime ago….
Oh, it’s cute, Mtierney! I’ve posted the video in an earlier news article in the Birds thread. 
Now here’s a wonderful, cheerful news item - a cat who lives on a racing yacht!
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-11-23/oli-the-cat-to-join-bob-williams-on-sylph-vi-in-sydney-to-hobart/103141204
(In the article, the Dept of Agriculture wouldn’t let the cat sail round the Horn and back because of the required lengthy times in quarantine to ensure Oli hasn’t picked up any bugs.)
Air Guitar kanga, anyone?? How about a face-planting heron?
It’s time for the funniest wildlife photos of the year - and aren’t there some cute ones?!
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-11-23/comedy-wildlife-photo-award-winners/103140454
I see that, a while back, someone was looking for a pet sitters. If you're on Facebook, you might want to join the group "SOMA Pet Care Providers" - https://www.facebook.com/groups/419893023532812. Contrary to the name, there are quite a few customers as well as providers there and frequent posts looking for various services and matching customers to providers.
WSJ ARTICLE..
https://www.wsj.com/health/healthcare/pet-health-data-artificial-intelligence-2d1b08d5
shows how Fido and Kitty vets may make human medical tests bring in faster results.
excerpt..
“The Mayo Clinic this year began using diagnostic algorithmsdeveloped by a Salt Lake City-area startup called Techcyte that uses its work with animal data to inform its AI development. Mayo’s large-scale laboratory, which processes samples for its own patients and other health systems, used to have a two-week backlog of parasite samples. Now it can finish the 200 that arrive each day in 24 hours.
“Big testing companies such as
Quest Diagnostics will start using Techcyte algorithms next year for fecal testing for parasites. And Techcyte says it is trying to win clearance from U.S. health regulators to allow smaller sites such as doctor’s offices to use algorithms in tests that would give patients results before their appointment ends.
Techcyte is also working with Mayo to develop AI-based cancer-detection tests. The AI can give pathologists and physicians more data to determine whether a patient has cancer, including doctors outside academic medical centers.”
Fascinating and smart birds you may never have heard about…..
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/20/science/falkland-islands-falcons.html
Why I couldn’t survive as a goat keeper…
A housekeeping mouse!! How clever!! 
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/07/mouse-secretly-filmed-tidying-mans-shed-every-night
There is a wonderful event known as the Dance Your PhD Competition, which I believe is held annually. Just been held for this year, and a thesis for zoologolical research has won. Quite inspired presentation, really.
Dr Welli thought hard about his topic, his conclusions and his video style. Guardian Australia relished reporting his win. (You can search that yourself, article was yesterday)
ETA: thought @Morganna, @Scully or @marksierra might have popped past…. 
A birder breaks a record at 10,000 sightings!
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/11/science/birds-birdwatching-record-kaestner.html
All the adventures this American birder experienced globally would make an amazing movie or PBS documentary!
@joanne — now climate change really resonates with me!
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/14/world/australia/snakes-climate-change.html
@mtierney, enjoy these photos, in return:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/gallery/2024/mar/15/the-week-in-wildlife-in-pictures-a-baby-gorilla-a-rare-black-leopard-and-a-sucker-bum-squid
Always a delightful selection.
Stunning pics here, and very interesting news from the insect world - from Bry the Fly Guy 
Hey, lovers of glam rock and of punk! Here’s a discovery for you:
- In short: University of Queensland researcher James Tweed stumbled upon a new species of longhorn beetle while camping in Lamington National Park in Queensland's Gold Coast hinterland.
- Researchers trying to identify the spiky-haired species say they have never seen anything like it in Australia.
- What's next? The beetle has been added to the CSIRO's Australian National Insect Collection while researchers try to find more specimens.
For Sale
Garage Sales
-
HUGE Rummage sale to benefit the Bloomfield High School Robotics Team Sale Date: Apr 27, 2024
More info
good doggie story….
https://joltofjoyful.com/plane-carrying-53-rescue-dogs-and-three-people-saved-in-crash-landing/