Is feeding wild birds OK? by Darryl Jones

Posted by Jennifer Eidelman | 6 Sep, 2011

Read the article by Darryl Jones at http://www.ecosmagazine.com/paper/EC11002.htm

Associate Professor Darryl Jones is Deputy Director of the Environmental Futures Centre at Griffith University’s School of Environment. His background is in behavioural ecology, with a special interest in species’ adaptation to urbanisation. Assoc. Prof. Jones has a long-term interest in birds – particularly megapodes (mound-builders) and corvids, and the implications of garden bird feeding.

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Poaching, mass harvesting of rhino horns and illegal trade

Posted by Jennifer Eidelman | 7 Jul, 2011
Out of the scores of rhino that once roamed the earth, only five types remain - according to the International Rhino Foundation (IRF).(2) Of the last remaining 4,200 Black rhinos, about 1,670 were estimated to be living in South Africa in 2009.(3) The country's other resident species, the White rhino, is classified as near-threatened on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)’s Red List of threatened species.(4) And yet, rhino poaching is on the rise. Prices of up to US$ 40,000 a kilogramme have been recorded for the much prized rhino horn - more than 5 times the price of gold.(5) If serious action is not taken, these majestic mega-herbivores will soon be extinct. Read more....

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Moving on: Relocating species in response to climate change

Posted by Jennifer Eidelman | 6 May, 2011

by Mary-Lou Considine from ECOS magazine

 

Global warming is not just threatening biodiversity – it is challenging the way scientists think about conservation. How can a species be preservedin situ if its habitat may disappear under climate change? Managed relocation may preserve some species for the future, but its success will rely on good science and a sound risk assessment. 

 

Read more......

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Center for biological diversity

Posted by Jennifer Eidelman | 24 Jan, 2011
The Center for Biological Diversity works through science, law and creative media to secure a future for all species, great or small, hovering on the brink of extinction. Read more.....

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Xeno-Canto: Bird Sounds From the Americas

Posted by Jennifer Eidelman | 18 Jun, 2010

http://www.xeno-canto.org/

South American Birds

  "Xeno-Canto is a fantastic website that exemplifies how the Internet can bring together people from around the world who have a common interest. This website offers bird songs, recorded by ornithologists and amateur birders alike, of almost 4500 species from around the world. The site is divided up into "Americas", "Asia", "Africa", "Europe", and "Australasia", and visitors can click on any region they desire in the far right hand corner of any page. There are many ways to view the information in the site, keeping in mind that the English and Latin names are used to identify the birds. Under Collection, on the menu found on the left side of any page, visitors can click on the link "All Species" to see a list of all the species with recorded songs, for the region they selected or across all regions. The number of recordings of each species of bird is listed next to their name. The fun "Mysteries" link, underneath the "Participate" section also found on the left side menu, contains unidentified bird recordings, posted so others might help determine the bird in question." Information and description from  http://scout.wisc.edu/Reports/ScoutReport/2010/scout-bestof.php

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Handfishes: thylacines of the sea?

Posted by Jennifer Eidelman | 25 May, 2010
 
 
A taxonomic review has added nine
species to a curious group of fishes that
once walked the world, and raised an
urgent need for their conservation.

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