Bird

Tag: Bird

Hidden Among the Dunes a New Species of Diving Petrel has been Discovered

A new species of diving petrel has been found on Whenua Hou off the coast of Stewart Island in Southern New Zealand. The bird was named the Whenua Hou Diving Petrel (Pelecanoides whenuahouensis sp. nov). So far the entire population has been estimated at 250 birds, all living on a 1 km sand strip. This exciting […]

Written by on July 19, 2018

Numeniini Bird Family Unexpectedly at Risk

Researchers discover that the Numeniini bird family faces extinction, despite having a very wide distribution. One of the world’s most geographically widespread families of birds is more endangered than researchers previously believed. Distribution is a key factor of a species’ population health. For Numeniini, a family of birds that includes Curlews and Godwits, distribution has not […]

Written by on March 16, 2017

Hawaiian Crows Returned to Captivity After Losses

Hawaiian Crow deaths prompt conservationists to return remaining individuals to captivity. Five male Hawaiian Crows, also known as  Alalā, were released from captivity into the Pu‘u Maka‘ala Natural Area Reserve in December. This was part of a recovery program that was 15 years in the making to return the native Hawaiian crow to its natural habit […]

Written by on January 26, 2017

The Night Parrot is Not Extinct After All, and Sightings are Increasing

Sightings of Endangered Night Parrot suggest the species is doing better than previously thought. The Endangered Australian native Night Parrot (Pezoporus occidentalis) was believed to be extinct for over 100 years until 2013. Now, more and more sightings suggest that this nocturnal bird species is doing better than previously thought. However, the Night Parrot is still very […]

Written by on November 10, 2016

Fascinating Facts about Five Extraordinary Island Birds

The Atoll Fruit-Dove (Ptilinopus coralensis) is endemic to the islands of French Polynesia. This bird species is listed as Near Threatened by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature due to low population sizes in areas with introduced predators. This is the only species of dove in the Tropical Pacific that is adapted exclusively to low […]

Written by on October 26, 2016

Native Wildlife Footage: Antipodes Island Pipit

An up-close look at the Antipodes Island Pipit, one of four land birds found only on Antipodes Island, New Zealand. In 2016, the New Zealand Department of Conservation, WWF-New Zealand, The Morgan Foundation, Heritage Expeditions, the New Zealand public, and Island Conservation partnered together to protect Antipodes Island’s native species by removing their primary threat–invasive house […]

Written by on October 20, 2016

Evidence Suggests that Galápagos Finches Self-medicate, using Native Guava Leaves to Repel Invasive Insects

A new report released in the journal Nature examines never before seen self-medicating behavior in Galápagos Finches. Galápagos Finches served as inspiration for Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution in the 19th century. Today, these iconic birds, commonly referred to as “Darwin’s finches”, have drawn the attention of scientists once again–but this time it’s not because of the size and shape […]

Written by on October 20, 2016

Controversial New Zealand Alpine Parrot Nears Extinction

The polarized New Zealand Alpine Parrot, “Kea”, faces extinction due to invasive species and other threats. Kea are one of the most maligned of New Zealand birds, as well as one of our most loved. -Tamsin Orr-Walker, chair of the Kea Conservation Trust The New Zealand Kea (Nestor notabilis), ranked Vulnerable by the International Union […]

Written by on October 3, 2016

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