The Introduction to Birdwatching 2009 will start at 12:00 pm in the afternoon and take an hour and a half to complete. For more information in regard to the park and future events, kindly visit the website at http://www.prospectpark.org/.

Date: 24 October 2009
Venue: Prospect Park
City: New York
Country: United States of America

Related posts:

1. British Birdwatching Fair 2009
2. Borneo Bird Festival 2009
3. Feed the Birds Day 2009

Date: 7 – 8 November 2009
Venue: Sarasota Hyatt
City: Sarasota, Florida
Country: United States of America

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1. The Long Island Parrot Society’s Parrot Expo 2009
2. 2009 Exotic Bird Auction
3. Mid-South Exotic Bird Fair 2009

The Mini Bird Race 2009 is an extremely fun and exciting event and offers spectators the opportunity to enjoy the company and activities with fellow bird lovers. For more information in regard to this event, visit the official website at http://borneohighlands.com.my/birdrace2009.html.

Date: 4 October 2009
Venue: Penrissen Range, Borneo Highlands Resort, Kuching
City: Sarawak
Country: Malaysia

Related posts:

1. Borneo Bird Festival 2009
2. Feed the Birds Day 2009
3. Grand Bird Show 2009

For more information on your nearest venue location and the Feed the Birds Day 2009 initiative, kindly visit the Royal Society of the Protections of Birds website at http://www.rspb.org.uk/feedthebirds/index.asp or contact them on 01767 680 551 (office hours).

Date: 24 – 25 October 2009
Venue: Various
City: Various
Country: United Kingdom

Related posts:

1. Grand Bird Show 2009
2. The Mini Bird Race 2009
3. The Long Island Parrot Society’s Parrot Expo 2009

For more information in regard to the show kindly visit the official Birds of a Feather website at http://www.boaf.com/birdShow.htm.

Date: 26 September 2009
Venue: Sheraton Wayfarer Conference Center
City: Bedford
Country: United States of America

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1. Hudson Bird Show 2009
2. Chester County Bird Show 2009
3. Massachusetts Cage Bird Show 2009

Here we cover everything from bird anatomy, conservation, the evolution of birds as well as extinct and rare birds. We hope to provide you with expert advice and opinions to help you become a better bird enthusiast and better carer for your bird.

Understanding the basic behavior of birds and their patterns, will also help you become a more accomplished bird watcher.

Check back soon as we’re adding more articles every day!

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1. CPR Saves Bird Lives

It seems to be a glaringly obvious concern – will the installation of additional wind farms in lowland agricultural areas in the UK cause birds to abandon the area? They are, after all, very noisy, large and full of movement. New research suggests that the answer to this all-important question is no.

A new scheme to put up additional wind turbines in agricultural areas to meet renewable energy targets seems to be safe. The Journal of Applied Ecology set about studying the impact that existing turbines had on wind farms in the Fens and discovered that approximately 3 000 birds from as many as 33 different species were living quite comfortably within 750 meters of the turbines at both of the farms under observation. Despite concerns that the 100-meter high turbines might disturb birds due to noise and the possibility of collision, it seems that the birds have adjusted to these turbines without so much as batting an eye-lid. They certainly seemed to have no impact on the distribution of a variety of birds, including skylarks, game birds, crows and seed-eaters. Pretty much the only birds that seemed to have been disturbed by the environmentally-friendly power source were common pheasants, which are not very manoeuvrable. In addition to this discovery, it was found that five red-listed species were living comfortably around the turbines, namely the tree sparrow, the corn bunting, the yellowhammer, the skylark and the common reed bunting.

According to Dr Mark Whittingham of Newcastle University, previous studies of this sort had focused mainly on geese, waders and birds of prey – species which are mainly found in coastal and upland areas. The new research shows that the wind tunnels are unlikely to have a very detrimental effect on farmland birds. This is good news for researchers since it likely means that the UK can not only meet renewable energy targets, but that schemes to boost the wildlife on farmlands in the area will not be at risk. While the research did not consider all the variables, it does seem that for the most part, the turbines just don’t really affect small farmland birds. In fact, they pose much more of a threat to bats, which often haemorrhage when they are exposed to the drop in pressure near the blades. This hopefully wont pose too much of a problem if wind farms are positioned in areas that are not too near to places with high concentrations of bats.

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1. The Important Role of Birds in Pollination
2. Bird Conference To Have Renewable Energy Theme
3. Birds Naturally Choose Flavonoids

It has always been thought that only mammals enjoy the somewhat varied sleep patterns that we are all so familiar with, but now it seems that birds are capable of REM, slow-wave sleep, transition stages and quick spikes too. Recent research conducted on the zebra finch has resulted in some alarming findings.

Research conducted by Philip Steven Low and his colleagues at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in San Diego, California, shows that songbirds have very similar sleep patterns to humans and other mammals. The findings, which were reported on in The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, came from electroencephalograms which were conducted on the birds. The discovery comes quite unexpectedly since previously it was thought that a neocortex was needed in order for an animal to have these varied sleep patterns. Birds do not have a neocortex – a fact which up until now has made it very difficult to even attempt to study the sleep patterns in birds. Scientists have actually been wanting to conduct studies on sleeping birds because of evidence that supports the idea that sleep plays a role in song learning. However the lack of a neocortex has made it difficult or impossible to pick up proper electrical signals from the test subjects.

However, according to Dr. Low, it was all about “Location, location, location.” The team of researchers experimented with moving the EEG electrodes to various parts of the brain until they found the most suitable spot. Once the signals were coming through loud and strong, he devised an algorithm to analyze them with. These algorithms created a multidimensional grid – a sort of mathematical map – that revealed the structure of the bird’s sleep. By mapping out the results in this way it was much easier to find and interpret the different sleep patterns the bird was experiencing.

The results of the research show that a cortex is not necessary for a creature to experience structure sleep patterns. The algorithms created to understand the brain activity of the sleeping bird can also be used as a basis to help find structural changes in the sleep of humans who are struggling with neurological disorders. This may prove to be of much benefit in future medical advances in the years to come.

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3. Birds Naturally Choose Flavonoids

According to recent research and data, as many as 20-30% of all animal species will be at an increased risk of extinction if temperatures continue to rise. Experts estimate that an increase of more than 2.5 °C in average temperatures across the globe could have a deadly impact on existing animal species as it will make survival more difficult. This is especially the case for many birds.

The results come in the wake of a report conducted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in 2007. The changes will especially affect birds as their life cycles are often closely linked with the changes in season. If those changes become almost indiscernible, birds will have a hard time functioning as they should. Neotropical migrant species, for example, are signaled by changes in temperature, daylight and wind as to when they should begin their annual migrations to the south and when they should return. The changes in temperature also affect other aspects of the bird’s lives – such as the availability of flowers, seeds and other sources of food at certain destinations. Too little food could result in major deaths in certain bird species. In addition to this, encroachment on natural habitats of birds that rely on specific habitats is also pushing birds to the brink of extinction. All of these reasons tell us that global warming could desolate bird populations across the globe.

In fact, research over the past few decades already shows that birds are being affected by the change in climate. Some bird populations seem to be changing their range in relation to the change in temperature, shifting closer to the poles in order to find their ideal average temperatures and habitats. Studies have documented that several North American warbler species have already shifted their range northward during the course of the past 24 years – and warblers are not the only species to be affected. The Great Kiskadee, White-tippe Dove, Tropical Parula, Green Jay, Buff-bellied Hummingbird, Tufted Titmouse, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Blue-gray Grantcatcher and Northern Mockingbird have also shifted their range – some by as many as 60 miles in the last 20 or so years.

Seabirds are also not unaffected by the trend and it has been discovered that the Sooty Shearwater has also shifted its migration routes northward. The changes in temperature also affect when these birds leave for warmer or cooler climes and some birds have been found to leave up to 21 days earlier than they would have just a few years ago. It is easy to note that the shift in bird behavior is a global phenomenon and so perhaps we should take it as a warning of how the irresponsible actions of much of the human race is slowly destroying the environment that we enjoy so much. Indeed, if trends continue it could be all over for the birds and we could be the ones heading north in search of some relief from the searing heat.

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1. Shifting Migrations Might Indicate Global Warming
2. Climate Changes Affect Bird Populations in Europe
3. One in Eight Birds in Danger of Extinction

Recent studies conducted at the University of Freiburg, in conjunction with the Max Plank Institute for Ornithology, have revealed that fruit-eating birds show a definite preference for fruit with higher concentrations of antioxidants. These antioxidants help them to sustain a healthy immune system.

Researchers have been studying the effects of antioxidants – particularly flavonoids – for some time now, but much of the research has been conducted in test-tubes up until now. This was the first time that the effect of flavonoids on the immune system in living animals has been conducted. The results were surprising. The researchers in Germany offered the little blackcap fruit-eating birds a choice of two foods. The foods were identical in every respect except for the concentration of flavonoids contained inside the fruit. The birds repeatedly chose the food with the added flavonoids. Thus they demonstrated a natural preference for fruits with higher levels of this sort of antioxidant.

The researchers also conducted studies to see if the flavonoids affect the bird’s health to any degree. They discovered that birds in the control group who were not fed antioxidants had weaker immune systems than those who were fed modest levels of flavonoids for four weeks. The flavonoids were fed to the birds in the form of one or two blackberries, bilberries or elderberries on a daily basis. While birds may be able to have more than this during the peak of the short berry season, researchers thought it more appropriate to study the levels that would be available on a more long-term basis. The study clearly shows that flavonoids can boost the immune systems of living organisms and that wild birds actually show a preference for foods containing flavonoids. The results of this research will be further used to study the ecological relationship between plants and birds as well as other animals that disperse seeds.

Some might argue that the berries with more flavonoids make the food darker in color and this is why the birds chose them. However the studies revealed that blackcaps do not show a color preference if the food is nutritionally identical, so they are confident that blackcaps choose the darker berries because they know they have a high flavonoid value. Flavonoids can be found in high concentrations in fruits and vegetables and are one of the most common antioxidants naturally available. So best take a lesson from the birds and make sure to eat all your fruit and vegetables to ensure that you stay healthy.

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1. Birds Share Mammalian Sleep Patterns
2. Who’s the Smartest Bird? – Birds.com
3. Wind Turbines Won’t Harm Birds in the Fens