The Wilson Journal of Ornithology recently published an article documenting the unusual nesting habits of the White-winged Diuca Finch. This was the first research ever published which detailed the diminutive bird’s breeding habits.

Up until now everyone thought that only Emperor Penguins nest directly on ice. Now it seems that they’re not the only ones. A surprising father and son team have unraveled the mystery after deciding to study the habits of the small bird more intently. Why is the team so surprising? The son in the team is only now just fourteen years of age!

Spencer P. Hardy teamed up with his father Douglas R. Hardy to make the discovery before he had even made it to sixth grade. The unusual father-son project came about as a result of Douglas Hardy’s regular scientific expeditions to the wind-blasted Quelccaya Ice Cap in Peru. Quite often while doing his research at the torturously high elevation of 18,600 feet, Douglas found that he kept stumbling across strange grass and twig structures – nests. But what were nests doing on the ice? According to Spencer Hardy, “there shouldn’t have been bird nests there. The elevation was too high, the environment too harsh, the habitat too extreme.” Yet directly on the ice is exactly where these nests were found.

Hardy is a glacier specialist working with the UMass Climatic System Research Center. His work in Peru has him studying the dramatic shrinkage of the Quelccaya ice. Despite having worked on glaciers around the globe, he’d never seen birds’ nests on any of them. Since frozen water is more in his line of work, he turned to his then 11-year-old son for help in solving the mystery. According to Douglas, “from the time Spencer was old enough to sit in a high chair, he’s been captivated by birds.” Douglas’ discovery really got his son’s interest and before long, Spencer’s passion for solving this birding mystery got Douglas motivated too. Before long the two forged an informal father-son team and started studying the birds to unlock the mystery.

Douglas’ job was to take digital photographs of whatever birds he encountered as he worked on the Quelccaya between June and August. He also took close-up photos of the nests. His son, who was staying in Vermont, received the images from his father and started researching them intently; using every library book about Andean birds he could get his hands on. From his studies, he narrowed the possible candidates down to the White-fronted Ground-tyrant and the White-winged Diuca Finch. Both birds were of an appropriate size, had the right habits and were seen quite often on the edges of the glaciers. Meanwhile Douglas was keeping a steady eye out for nests, feathers, egg shells and other clues. In 2008 he finally discovered an abandoned, intact nest that still had eggs in it. The question was put to Carla Dove, a scientist who specializes in identifying birds from their removed plumage. She tagged the Diuca Finch as the culprit, and the bird’s proximity to the nests also pointed to this conclusion. The research was printed, with Spencer’s academic affiliation listed as the Marion W. Cross Elementary School.

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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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In a research project which shatters the long held belief that the ability of self-recognition was restricted to select primates, it has been discovered that Magpies also have this ability. This discovery brings another long held belief into question with regard to which part of the brain is used in the function of self-recognition. Strong evidence has indicated that it is the neocortex which comes into play in this function, but magpies do not even possess a neocortex.

The results of hundreds of tests by different research institutions over a number of years led researchers to the conclusion that, apart from humans, only four species of apes, bottlenose dolphins and Asian elephants were able to recognize themselves. As humans, we develop the ability to recognize ourselves in a mirror at around eighteen months of age. This is also the age when humans start displaying and developing social behavioural skills.It has been found that the most reliable method of testing for self-awareness is by means of a “mirror mark test”. A mark of some sort is placed on the animal being tested in such a way that it is only able to see the mark when it looks at its reflection in a mirror. This is the method which was used on the magpies by Helmut Prior and his colleagues at Goethe University in Frankfurt. Using five magpies, the researchers place a red, yellow or black sticker on the necks of the birds in such a way that it would only be seen in a mirror. None of the birds seemed perturbed by the sticker, until they saw themselves in a mirror. The birds with the colored spots scratched at their necks, while the birds which received a black sticker that was not noticeable against their black feathers, did not react upon seeing themselves in the mirror. This is seen as a clear indication that the birds recognized themselves in the mirror.

With regard to whether or not self-recognition is linked to the neocortex, researcher Franz de Waal from the Emory University in Atlanta points out that even if the magpie does not have a neocortex, it does have a large brain. He believes that it is this large brain that allows advanced connectivity and if it had been a different species, such as a sparrow, used in the test, it would not have had the same results. It is well known that Magpies have a penchant for shiny objects, which they steal and hide away. De Waal is of the opinion that it is not far-fetched to believe that this “master thief” has “perspective-taking ability”. This would support the findings which suggest that self-recognition in birds and mammals may be explained by the theory of convergent evolution, where similar evolutionary pressures can result in similar traits or behaviours, but these are reached via different routes.

Certainly, results of ongoing avian research projects continue to prove that there is still plenty to be discovered about the amazing birds that inhabit our beautiful planet.

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Terms such as global warming, carbon footprint and climate change are becoming part of every day vocabulary as people become more aware of the far reaching consequences of mankind’s abuse of the planet. Researchers at the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), Durham University and Cambridge University have been monitoring the effect of climate change on bird populations in the United Kingdom and have reached some disturbing conclusions.

Researchers have found that birds which favor warmer climates, such as the Cirl Bunting, Cetti’s Warbler and Dartford Warbler, are becoming more common across quite a varied range of habitats in Britain as temperatures rise. Although birding enthusiasts in these areas may welcome their new visitors, it is an indication that climate change is affecting birdlife, and not necessarily for the good. In the case of some northern species, this climate change is having a decidedly negative effect which can be seen in the falling numbers of species such as Fieldfare and Redwing, as well as the Slavonian Grebe, a bird whose range traditionally extended its southern margins as far as Scotland.

Researchers examined population trends of 42 bird species in relation to climate changes over a period of twenty-five years and their findings confirmed what they had suspected – the changes in climate over the past twenty years has had a profound effect on birdlife. Professor Brian Huntley from Durham University’s Institute of Ecosystem Science says that, taking into account that the U.K. is in the middle latitudes of Europe, researchers involved in this project expected that the ongoing climatic warming would favor bird species from the south of Europe, while adversely affecting northern bird species and the results of the research confirmed this. Professor Huntley has used the results of the research to assist him in compiling “A Climatic Atlas of European Breeding Birds”, which points to potential changes in distribution of Europe’s regularly occurring nesting birds and confirms that urgent action needs to be taken to minimize climatic change in order to avoid catastrophic impacts on birds.

With a lot of attention being focused on governments to resolve these environment-altering issues, hopefully something will be done before it is too late for many of the little feathered creatures that share our planet.

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A recent study conducted by researchers from the Illinois Natural History Survey and the University of Illinois has resulted in statistical data to prove that during their nocturnal migration birds fly together in loose flocks. This is the first conclusive data that confirms what many ornithologists and bird-watchers have suspected for some time.

Researchers have spent decades attempting to unlock the mysteries of the nocturnal migration of birds. Considering the size of a bird and the altitude at which it flies, together with the fact that it is nighttime, this has proven to be very difficult. Previous studies have indicated that, although migrating birds may have been flying tens of meters apart, they nonetheless stayed together by flying at the same speed and at approximately the same altitude. However, these studies have not provided convincing proof to support this assertion. Even if a study could establish that the birds were in fact traveling together, there was no way of knowing if this flight pattern was intentional.

The new research project, which has been conducted by professor of animal biology, Ronald Larkin together with Robert Szafoni, analyzed bird-flight data which had been collected by Larkin by means of a low-power-density tracking radar during the 70s and 80s. This radar works by pointing a narrow cone, referred to as a “pencil-beam”, at any target within range. The target, in this case a bird, appears as an echo on the radar screen. With a flip of a switch, the radar locks on the target and tracks it while recording data with regard to the target’s distance from the radar, as well as its altitude and direction of flight. Moreover, the radar provides data which can be used to calculate the frequency of the target bird’s wing beats.

Once the radar has locked onto a bird and is tracking its flight, if another bird appeared in the radar’s beam, the radar operator could switch back and forth between the two birds and thereby track the flight details of both birds simultaneously. Upon analyzing dozens of sets of data, researchers came to the conclusion that a significant number of tracked birds were flying at the same speed, same altitude and in the same direction, even though some of the pairs were more than 200 meters apart.

Ongoing research continues to reveal that birds are fascinating creatures with astounding abilities – and no doubt bird-lovers everywhere agree.

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A recent study of bird genetics has researchers startled with surprising new findings. After completing the largest study of bird genetics ever undertaken, U.S. researchers are discovering that a number of birds are not as closely related to similar bird species as was previously thought.

While a lot of the findings are based on the theory of evolution, there is just no disputing the genetic facts. Bird lovers will be shocked to find that despite appearances, falcons are not very closely related to hawks and eagles. Drab and nocturnal nightjars seem to have a very close link to diurnal, colorful hummingbirds while parrots are strikingly similar to songbirds. Previously all assumptions about animal familial groups were made based mainly on appearances but also on activities, breeding habits and diet. Now it would seem that appearances have been truly deceiving and the new findings may even result in a number of field guides being altered in the near future.

The study, which was conducted by Sushma Reddy from the Chicago Field Museum of Natural History, involved studying the genetic sequences of approximately 169 bird species in an attempt to better establish the which bird families belong where on the bird family tree. What he and his team of researchers discovered was that birds that often look very different are actually genetically very similar, while birds that may seem to be closely related may have little or no relation at all. It has taken more than five years to gather the information needed for the research – a task undertaken by the Early Bird Assembling the Tree-of-Life Research Project – and DNA from all major living bird groups was taken to create a complete, overall assessment. The research required for such a massive undertaking is the equivalent of a small genome project and the findings were published in Science on June 27 to make them more accessible to other researchers and biologists.

The new findings will finally put to rest disputes regarding the correct classification of avians, but at the same time it has thrown biologists and ornithologists into a whirlpool of confusion and controversy. At any rate, the results of the study will no doubt require that dozens of bird books, biology textbooks and field guides will have to be corrected.

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Ongoing ornithological research continues to confirm what keen bird-watchers have suspected all along – their feathered friends are highly intelligent and adaptive, with an amazing array of communication skills. A new study conducted by researchers at Queen’s University in Washington has revealed that migrating songbirds rely on the behavior of local resident birds to assist them in avoiding predators during migration.

Migrating birds face many potentially dangerous situations during their annual journey and sadly, many don’t make it. Avoiding predators when flying through unfamiliar territory would substantially increase a bird’s chances of arriving at its destination safely. However, to be in a position to avoid predators, a migrating bird needs to be able to establish exactly what its predators are. This is where the behavior of the local bird population proves invaluable.

The Queen’s University research project involved testing whether migratory songbirds note, and respond to, the anti-predator behavior of local birds. A common method of chasing off predators is known as “mobbing”. Once a potential predator has been identified, a number of birds will approach and rapidly change their positions around its location, while at the same time flapping their wings, twitching their tails and emitting load alarmed calls.

Recognizing that migratory birds seldom participate in mobs, researchers wanted to establish if they gain information with regard to the location, identity and degree of threat of a predator by listening to mobbing calls of local bird species. A test was carried out on birds migrating between Canada and Belize, whereby researchers broadcast playbacks of the alarm calls of the black-capped chickadee which is common in North America and therefore familiar, as well as the blue-gray tanager which is common in Central America and therefore unfamiliar to the migrating birds.

The results of this test showed that birds resident in Belize responded only to the tanager calls, whereas migrant birds responded to the tanager and chickadee calls. Queen’s University biology professor Dr. Laurene Ratcliffe, said that the results of the test present the first evidence that migrating birds take note of the anti-predator behavior of local birds during migration, and use this information to their advantage.

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Keen birders have long appreciated the intelligence and communication skills of birds. Apart from the fact that birdsong is delightful to listen to, it is also an integral part of bird identification for bird-watchers, as well as a means for birds to communicate with one another. Ongoing avian research is continuously revealing fascinating facts about birds, how they interact with one another and how they adapt to a rapidly changing world. Recent research has revealed that some migratory songbirds choose their nesting area based solely on the songs of other birds that are successfully raising their young.

To test the theory that birds make use of this “eavesdropping” method of communication, researchers have played recordings of successful parents’ birdsong in areas that would not normally be chosen as a nesting site. The result was that the recorded songs prompted birds to nest there, suggesting that they are more influenced by their social network than by the suitability of the habitat. This is a strong indication that songbirds have far more complex communication skills than previously thought.

In a joint research project, scientists and avian ecology experts from Oregon State University, Wellesley College, Trent University and Queens University, monitored 54 research sites focusing on the black-throated blue warbler. Due to their limited life-span, selecting the right habitat to successfully breed is of primary importance to most birds, as they need to get it right first time. If their choice of nesting site doesn’t have sufficient cover and a ready food supply, their chances of breeding successfully are significantly diminished. It was previously thought that vegetation structure was the driving force behind their choice of nesting site, but the results of this new research indicate that younger birds listen to the songs of older, more experienced birds and use this as the criteria for their choice of nesting site in the next breeding season.

At the research site in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, during autumn when successful parents were singing to their young, presumably to show them how to sing, researchers recorded their song and played it in other, totally unsuitable habitats. Other black-throated blue warblers that were flying overhead chose to nest in these habitats the following spring, even though they were obviously unsuitable. It was further discovered that male birds are four times more likely to be influenced by the birdsong in choosing a nesting site and, even though the male’s choice was obviously unsuitable, the female would follow.

Although it has been understood for some time that birds make various sounds for various reasons, such as for sounding an alarm or to attract a mate, but researchers were surprised at just how strongly the birds were influenced by vocal and auditory communication when it came to choosing nesting habitat. The results of the research can prove invaluable in the light of rapidly changing climates and deteriorating environment. If birds respond to vocal cues, they could be persuaded to abandon previously chosen nesting sites should they no longer be suitable, and be guided to nesting sites which will benefit them and their offspring.

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The recent completion of a new genetic family tree of the United Kingdom’s birds has thrown new light on attempts to assess which bird species might be most at risk of future endangerment. The family tree – or phylogenetic map – provides a clear depiction of how different species are related. It was compiled by Dr Gavin Thomas from the NERC Center for Population Biology, and when compared to existing lists of endangered bird species, Thomas found that most of the birds currently fighting for survival were grouped together on the same branches of the family tree.

The new insight could possibly help conservationists detect which birds might be next to suffer a massive decline and so set in motion preventative measures to avoid having even more species added to the list of endangered birds. Thomas’ research was published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences on June 11 and has received quite a lot of attention. The population biologist from Imperial College London found that the British birds that were currently suffering a population decline were always clustered closely together on the same branches of the family tree. This is most likely because these species share a number of physical traits such as specific habitat requirements or low reproductive rates. Their limited ability to cope with changing environments then makes them exceptionally vulnerable when faced with a decline in habitat. Thomas has suggested that these findings can be used as a sort of early warning system for conservationists. However, he also feels that the ultimate decision regarding which birds merit the most attention should be based on a number different factors and not just the phylogenetic map.

Previously scientists and biologists have relied mainly on declining population numbers when trying to determine which species are most in need of conservation. They also look at the bird’s natural environment and try to determine if a particular geographical area is decreasing in size. This is known as ‘range contraction’. By combining all the information together, conservationists could definitely start to protect species that are in danger of suffering massive population decreases before their numbers dwindle too far. Examples of birds that may be at risk of future population declines include the greenfinch and the ptarmigan – both of which are not currently endangered but which are closely related to birds that are experiencing a severe decline in numbers.

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New research conduced by a team from the Arizona State University revealed with startling certainty that the color of a bird has a massive effect on its physiology. During the course of the experiment a number of male barn swallows had their breast feathers artificially colored to match those of more desirable males. The results showed that the change in color didn’t just affect the eligibility of the males in the females eyes, but it actually changed the birds own body chemistry.

Assistant Professor Kevin McGraw commented that it was always traditionally thought that the bird’s internal processes determined their external appearance. However, the new research indicates that when the birds perceived a change in their coloring it directly affected their internal physiological state. At a time in the breeding cycle when the bird’s sex steroids are usually declining, these birds showed a massive jump in testosterone levels after just one week. McGraw also noted that the speed at which these changes took place suggested that the tiny birds had a very dynamic system.

The change in plumage coloring also had other effects on the birds. The birds that had been purposely altered with a non-toxic marker were found to breed earlier in the season and to father more young. Their females also cheated less frequently. However, the increase in activity seems to have had a marked effect on the health of the bird too, as many of them not only had increased androgen levels but showed a marked decrease in weight. This seems to confirm that plumage conveys accurate and honest information about the health of the animal and that it is usually only the healthiest and fittest birds that develop the richer coloring. Darker feather colors are not only more biochemically costly to produce but they also make the bird more vulnerable to predators. Thus only the fittest birds with naturally higher levels of testosterone are naturally capable of producing this sort of plumage, making them more appealing to females and increasing their chances of successfully producing offspring.

The striking change in the hormone levels of the bird might make one think of how a good haircut or a new suit can make you feel a million times better about yourself and more appealing to the opposite sex. Clearly this is not just a phenomenon that occurs in humans and the research suggests that there is more to it than just ‘feeling good’.

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