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This week in birds - #640

 A roundup of the week's news of birds and the environment:


Gray Catbirds are among my favorites of the birds that visit my yard throughout the year. Here are ten interesting facts about these lovely critters.

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The pangolin is often referred to as the most trafficked animal in the world, traded for its scales and meat. Pangolins are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species And now they may be protected under the U.S. Endangered Species Act as well. That is currently being proposed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

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Bird conservation is an important part of the federal budget. It is essential that those federal programs continue.

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Banks are the biggest funders of fossil fuel expansion and under the current administration which is a friend of fossil fuel they are retreating from their climate commitments.

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This administration's Environmental Protection Agency seems determined to forego the protection part of its name at least when it comes to the oil and gas industry.

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Mountain lion kittens have been seen recently on trail cameras in Oklahoma offering evidence that the big cats may be reestablishing themselves there.

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This is an Akohekohe, a Hawaiian honeycreeper, one of the species that is a victim of avian malaria. Scientists are releasing thousands of non-biting male mosquitos on the islands and it is hoped that these males will help produce sterile eggs that will aid in suppressing the disease.

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As the climate gets warmer, ticks of several kinds are flourishing throughout much of the continent, and they are a menace to both animal and human health. 

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In South Africa, veterinarians are shooting rhinoceroses with tranquilizer guns in order to remove their horns in a bid to save them from poachers. 

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As you might expect, the current administration is no friend to birds.

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The State of Utah is attempting to use public opinion in order to justify seizing public lands.

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How do viruses leap between species? Footage from a bat cave offers some clues.

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This beautiful creature is the Purple Quail-Dove, a South American species that is the American Bird Conservancy's Bird of the Week.

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Scavenger animals are in trouble and that is bad news for humans.

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The funding cuts proposed by the administration would have a detrimental effect on the Jane Goodall chimpanzee conservation project in Tanzania.  

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Long-billed Curlews seem to use prairies dogs as a warning system. Their alarm calls alert the birds to danger.

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What really constitutes an "invasive" species?

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This little Canada gosling was lucky enough to be adopted by a doting pair of Sandhill Cranes and the interspecies family is flourishing.


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Comments

  1. David M. Gascoigne,June 21, 2025 at 4:45 AM

    Good morning, Dorothy. Thank you, as always, for the weekly roundup, verging on indispensable for me! I especially appreciate the interesting discussion of invasive species this week. The question of what constitutes an invasive species has been hotly debated for years, but there is little question that Homo sapiens is the most invasive and most destructive of all. The relentless march of your government to dismantle environmental protections and to regress to unlimited and unregulated fossil fuel use is a concern to the whole world. It is getting oppressively hot here, so I can barely imagine what it must be like in Texas. Stay cool and have a great weekend. All the best - David

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dorothy BordersJune 21, 2025 at 11:27 AM

      Actually, the temperatures here have been relatively mild so far. Today's predicted high is 95 degrees F. with a nice breeze from the Gulf. It won't feel so great to those out working in the sun but for us patio-sitters, it is fairly pleasant.

      Delete
  2. thecuecardJune 22, 2025 at 5:43 PM

    Dark days for creatures large and small -- very sadly. But I was so happy to see the gosling with the cranes video. Oh my goodness it's adorable. Does either side know this isn't going to grow up to be like them? Lol. Thx for including this one -- I'm going to share it with others.

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    Replies
    1. Dorothy BordersJune 22, 2025 at 6:18 PM

      I agree the gosling is a great story and a much needed respite from all the sad news.

      Delete
  3. Deb Nance at ReaderbuzzJune 23, 2025 at 6:44 AM

    The whole idea of "invasive species" is interesting to me. It was jarring to me to hear naturalists talk about getting rid of invasive species when I first joined the Texas Master Naturalists group.

    And my son told me this weekend that they have seen more ticks in East Texas lately.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dorothy BordersJune 23, 2025 at 10:16 AM

      Ticks were a serious problem where I grew up. I remember picking them off our dogs. Disgusting!

      Delete
    2. Deb Nance at ReaderbuzzJune 25, 2025 at 9:05 AM

      I remember bringing home ticks and chiggers from being out in the woods at my Grandpap's house in Brazoria.

      Delete
    3. Dorothy BordersJune 25, 2025 at 9:36 AM

      Chiggers were (are) the worst! Those little red bugs burrow into your skin, make themselves right at home, and itch like crazy!

      Delete
  4. Sarah @ All The Book Blog Names Are TakenJune 23, 2025 at 12:16 PM

    Ticks are the absolute worst. I had one when I was a kid and freaked out, after spending a whole weekend running around the woods on my grandparents' property. I was in first grade and it made me scared to go back into the woods for so long.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dorothy BordersJune 23, 2025 at 12:28 PM

      I remember flicking them off of me when I was roaming around in the woods but I never had one actually get attached. That would not be pleasant, which is an understatement for sure.

      Delete
  5. Linda's Relaxing LairJune 25, 2025 at 2:07 PM

    Such a wonderful, informative post, Dorothy. Beautiful photos. Thank you so much for sharing, and warm greetings from a 68 year old retired lady living in Montreal, Canada.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dorothy BordersJune 25, 2025 at 2:30 PM

      It's great to hear from a retired lady from Montreal. Welcome aboard. I do one of these posts every Saturday so I hope you'll come again..

      Delete

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