This week in birds - #683

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

The American Bird Conservancy's featured Bird of the Week is the Galapagos Petrel, a large, slender seabird that is critically endangered and whose population is decreasing. The bird's population declined by up to 80 percent when nonnative plants and animals were introduced to the Galapagos Islands. There is an effort underway to reduce the many threats facing the species. Continued control of introduced predators as well as the minimization of ongoing human impacts are important for the Galapagos Petrel's continued survival.

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Europe has been sweltering under an extreme heat wave this week.

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In Portland, Oregon, there is an effort to hold fossil fuel companies responsible for a heat wave that occurred five years ago. This would establish an interesting precedent.

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The current administration in Washington shut down a climate science website last year. Now former National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration employees have recreated the site.

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The current El Niño could evolve into one of the most powerful ones on record, bringing extreme weather worldwide.

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The Commerce Secretary accuses California of "environmental extremism" and will launch an investigation of the state's powerful Coastal Commission.

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The goblin shark has the well-earned title of the "ugliest shark on the planet."

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The Euphrates River played an important role in the founding of early civilizations. Scientists believe they have now discovered its origins.

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Female dolphins remember males that were aggressive during mating season and may attempt to avoid them in future. 

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Ayahuasca is an Indigenous beverage from Brazil that has psychedelic properties and, unfortunately, it is now in demand outside of the Indigenous community which has increased pressure on the plants used in its concoction.

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A bit of good news from London where deaths linked to air pollution have fallen by 40%.

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Animal migration is becoming more difficult in the changing landscape. Is there anything we can do to help?

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The government is teaming with a private company called Colossal Biosciences to store samples of at-risk animals and plants.

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On Thursday the president issued an executive order aimed at reducing pesticides in the food supply and studying the health risks they pose.

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Sunflower sea stars disappeared from California waters during a heat wave more than a decade ago, but now some have reappeared there.

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Some tropical butterflies can live almost a year, vastly longer than most butterflies. Their diet might be what makes the difference.