newsmart – Environment

theguardian.com | 3 hrs. 25 min. ago

‘Shocking and sobering’: UK bird populations fall to lowest level on record

Nearly half of species are in decline, with farmland birds and seabirds the worst hit, conservation bodies have saidWild bird populations in the UK have fallen to their lowest level since records began, figures show, with nearly half of species in decline.Figures produced by leading nature conservation bodies for the government show that average populations across 132 native breeding species fell by 19% between 1970 and 2025, with farmland birds and seabirds the worst hit in recent years.

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theguardian.com | 4 hrs. 12 min. ago

Flying foxes in NSW and Victoria face mass starvation amid food shortages

Rescuers respond to surge in callouts for the vulnerable bat species, which usually feeds on blossoms and tree nectarGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastFlying foxes are starving en masse across New South Wales and parts of Victoria, with wildlife rescuers responding to a surge in reports of “exhausted and emaciated” adults and skeletal pups.Most reports involved grey-headed flying foxes, listed as vulnerable under federal environment laws and which usually feed on the blossoms and nectar of native trees.

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timesofindia.indiatimes.com | 8 hrs. 58 min. ago

In 2006, Grand Canyon began a major trout-reduction effort in Bright Angel Creek; native fish populations increased by more than 400%

Historically, Bright Angel Creek was a sanctuary for various native fish species, including the endangered humpback chub. However, the rise of non-native brown trout has threatened this ecosystem. In an effort to restore balance, the Bright Angel Creek Trout Reduction Project was initiated, successfully eliminating invasive trout and leading to a remarkable 400% increase in native fish populations.

theguardian.com | 9 hrs. 15 min. ago

Dream of Birds – documentary

What happens when a forest loses its birdsong? Following clues hidden in the sounds birds make while asleep, Argentinian physicist Gabriel Mindlin uncovers a hidden extinction – not of species, but of memory – and sets out to revive vanished melodies before they disappear forever.

Part detective story, part cutting-edge science, Mindlin’s mission leads him to the dusty 1960s archives of Buenos Aires naturalist, confirming that some songs no longer echo in the biosphere. So he deploys “robot tutors” to see whether young birds can learn and spread the old songs once again.Read more on this topic: Trill seekers: can scientists use AI and tutors to help birds remember lost songs? Continue reading...

theguardian.com | 9 hrs. 34 min. ago

Trill seekers: can scientists use AI and tutors to help birds remember lost songs?

When populations fall, fledglings can struggle to learn the right notes to attract mates. But research on how birds communicate offers hope for species’ survivalListening to birdsong is one of life’s great joys, but when researchers heard a particular tune emerging from a tree in a Buenos Aires park, they were especially jubilant.

This arrangement was among those chirped by the local rufous-collared sparrows in the 1960s, but had since disappeared from the area.That was until scientists created a computer-generated rendition, curious to find out if birds might consider it realistic enough to imitate. Less than three months later, a local avian resident began to copy parts of the song.

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timesofindia.indiatimes.com | 11 hrs. 9 min. ago

Scientists discover a bamboo coral forest nearly 1,400 metres below the surface

Researchers located a previously unknown deep-water bamboo coral forest during an expedition near the Xisha Islands. The coral forest, recorded at depths of 1,200 to 1,380 metres, features various marine species and habitats. Observations showed increased coral density as depth decreased, highlighting its ecological significance.

Active currents and nutrient-rich underwater conditions contribute to the forest's growth and biodiversity.

theguardian.com | 11 hrs. 59 min. ago

Country diary: The story of birds starts with their feathers

River Lagan, Belfast: I glance at the feather in my hand, thoughts drifting to the dinosaurs that were among the first feathered animalsOn my walk along the towpath, I pick up a small grey feather. It’s a flight feather, probably from the wing of a feral pigeon.

I stroke it absently as I watch the birds that are swimming on the river’s surface. Steeped in autumn sunshine, the different species are also feathered with other seasons. Summer is in the fuzzy down of a late-hatched moorhen chick. Winter gleams in the white heads of the “black-headed” gulls.

And, while a mallard’s emerald-green head is, as yet, tatty as old velvet, his crisply curled drake’s tails herald the coming spring.If the story of birds is told in their plumage, then moult – the shedding and regrowth of feathers – is the turn of a page.

The moorhen chick reminds me that the first chapter is about keeping warm. I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear, almost tucking the pigeon feather in as well. While our hair and birds’ feathers are both made of keratin, they differ in how they grow.

In essence, hair extends as a single linear thread, whereas down feathers emerge frothing in all directions. As a fledgling matures, its outer feathers then lengthen, with a central shaft supporting branches that can flatten out and zip together to make a smooth surface. Continue reading...

thehindu.com | 1 days ago

Kerala State Biodiversity Board submits policy document to mitigate threats due to invasive species

Document suggests laying emphasise on prevention and monitoring of the spread of invasive alien species and generating public awareness and capacity-building to handle the menace