The Important Role of Birds in Pollination
Pollination, whereby pollen grains (male) are transferred to the ovule (female) of a plant, is an irreplaceable step in the reproduction of seed plants. Most plant fruits are unable to develop without pollination taking place and many beautiful flower varieties would die out if not pollinated. Bees and insects are the most common pollinators, but bats and birds are known to do their share in this vital activity. The agent moving the pollen, whether it is moths, bees, bats, wind or birds, is called the “pollinator” and the plant providing the pollen is called the “pollenizer”.
Sociable Lapwing Colony Found
In the year 2003, the Sociable Lapwing (Vanellus gregarious) was listed as a critically endangered bird species, as it was thought that a mere two hundred breeding pairs remained. As the rarest bird on earth, sightings of the Sociable Lapwing were few, but recently an expedition team traveled across Syria and made a historical discovery. They found one of the largest bird colonies ever recorded in the last one hundred years. A discovery that brings new hope for this magnificent bird species and could secure their survival.
Festival of the Cranes in New Mexico
Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge situated south of Socorro, New Mexico, has developed into one of the most magnificent national wildlife sanctuaries in North America. It is here that tens of thousands of birds gather each autumn to stay for the duration of winter. The 20th annual Festival of the Cranes to take place from 13 to 18 November 2007 is a celebration in honor of the arrival of the cranes.
Falconry Part 2: The Basics
Most falconers would agree that the ancient art of falconry requires plenty of patience, perseverance and time. Training birds of prey (raptors) is a lengthy and complex process, but can be extremely rewarding. With the goal of protecting the birds, most countries have strict laws with regard to the capturing and keeping of raptors, requiring that training be done under the supervision of a licensed falconer. When one considers that many important training details vary between species of raptors, individual raptors, as well as to where and when it is best to undertake training, it is clear that consulting a professional falconer is essential for the raptor as well as the would-be falconer.
The Popular Sport of Pigeon Racing
Pigeon racing is a form of sport that was derived from post pigeons, as the pigeon is one species of bird that has been domesticated by humans for hundreds of years. Their magnificent ability to find their way home made them perfect messengers before telephones, airplanes and modern technology took over. These pigeons were able to fly great distances, deliver important messages and find their way home. Some pigeons are still used in the military, as they are the silent, unnoticed messengers of the sky.
Falconry Part 1: Origins and Applications
Falconry is a sport that involves the training of birds of prey to hunt game for their trainers. Although not all birds of prey are falcons, the previous use of the term “hawker” when hawks were used for hunting has come to commonly be used as a term describing traveling traders. For this reason the term “hawker” has fallen into disuse, with “falconer” and “falconry” applying to the sport irrespective of the species of bird used.
The 11th Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival
Strategically located on the eastern continental flyway Florida, USA, is truly a bird-watcher’s paradise. This is a key stopover point for a number of migrating waterfowl, shorebirds, passerines and raptors with more than 330 species of
New Caledonian Crows in the Spotlight
New Caledonian crows are well-known for their resourceful use of tools in the wild. They have been observed using their beaks to skillfully shape twigs into bug-grabbing devices in a way that some researchers believe to be so advanced that it rivals the abilities of some primates. In an effort to find out more about these intelligent birds, that are easily disturbed and therefore difficult to observe, scientists have developed an ingenious new technique to witness their behavior in their peaceful, densely forested mountainous habitats.
A Closer Look at the Intriguing Galapagos Hawk
The Galapagos hawk is found exclusively in the Galapagos Islands. The adult Galapagos hawk is almost completely different shades of brown and the female is larger than the male with an average size of 56 cm in length. It is one of the few terrestrial predators on the islands and has no natural enemies.
The RSPB’s Feed the Birds Day
Most of us take for granted the cheerful song of the many wild birds that frequent our gardens and fill the air with joy. Their presence is merely accepted as part of a daily routine. But when the afternoons become quiet and garden starts to loose its color, we wonder where our feathered friends have gone, and why. One organization that has chosen to address the issues of wild birds is the RSPB in the United Kingdom. They launched a project called Feed the Birds Day, to bring attention to the needs and difficulties that birds often face.
Loading ...