Unusual Bald Bird Discovered

A new species of bird has been discovered by scientists in Laos. The bird is Asia's first new species of bulbul, a songbird, in more than 100 years,

Physorg.com reports:

"An odd songbird with a bald head living in a rugged region in Laos has been discovered by scientists from the Wildlife Conservation Society and University of Melbourne, as part of a project funded and managed by the mining company MMG (Minerals and Metals Group) that operates the Sepon copper and gold project in the region.

The thrush-sized bird is greenish-olive with a light-colored breast, a distinctive featherless, pink face with bluish skin around the eye extending to the bill and a narrow line of hair-like feathers down the centre of the crown." See full article:

Some Good News For Ocean Fisheries

A new study finds some signs of recovery from overfishing in several areas around the globe.

Physorg.com reports:

Scientists have joined forces in a groundbreaking assessment on the status of marine fisheries and ecosystems. The two-year study, led by Boris Worm of Dalhousie University and Ray Hilborn of the University of Washington and including an international team of 19 co-authors, shows that steps taken to curb overfishing are beginning to succeed in five of the ten large marine ecosystems that they examined. The paper, which appears in the July 31 issue of the journal Science, provides new hope for rebuilding troubled fisheries. See full article.

Diving With Penguins

Some penguins prefer tropical waters. This BBC video shows a diver getting up close and personal with a group of Galapagos penquins. She really didn't expect what developed. Check it out. Photo from: Nothing But Penquins

From Wikepedia:

"The Galapagos Penguin is one of the smallest penguins. It is the only penguin to cross the Northern Hemisphere which means they live farther north than any other warm weather penguin. 90% of the Galapagos Penguins live among the western islands of Fernandina and Isabela" See the video.

Nearly Extinct Frog Is Rediscovered

It is always god news for wildlife lovers to learn that a lost species is not lost at all.

Inland News.com

"For the first time in nearly 50 years, a population of a nearly extinct frog has been rediscovered in the San Bernardino National Forest. Biologists from the U.S. Geological Survey rediscovered the rare mountain yellow-legged frog in the San Jacinto Wilderness near Idyllwild. Researchers had estimated there were about 122 adult mountain yellow-legged frogs in the wild." See full article.

Meet The Giant Coconut Crab

On certain Pacific Islands there is a species of land crab that is quite large. They are slow moving, generally nocturnal and remain hidden during the day to emerge at night in search of food.

Hemmy.net reports:

"The coconut crab is the largest terrestial arthropod in the world and is known for its ability to crack coconuts with its pincers. They can weigh up to 4kg (Some reports claim up to 17kg) and leg span of 1m. It is eaten by the Pacific islanders and is considered a delicacy "

Learn more.

The American Crow Is One Smart Bird

Crows are interesting and smart. How much? Now there is a question.

Blane Klemek, of the Bemidji Pioneer reports:

"An interesting part of crows’ behavior is their sense of community with one another. It’s no mystery to anyone familiar with crows that these birds tend to form large and noisy flocks. But what might not be common knowledge is how cooperative some populations or “family groups” of crows tend to be when it comes to brood-rearing. For instance, research has shown that even though crows become reproductively mature at about 2 years of age, they don’t necessarily form pair-bonds, mate and raise their own offspring immediately. It turns out that some crows will help raise their own siblings, staying within their parents’ territory for five years or longer while assisting with parental duties such as feeding nestlings and acting as sentinels.

While the intelligence of crows is not disputed, it is difficult to study and learn just how intelligent wild crows really are. Reports exist that crows can distinguish between a man carrying a gun and a man carrying a stick. Such an incident is related by the late Ernest Thompson Seton, who, in his popular book “Wild Animals I Have Known,” wrote about “Silverspot, the Story of a Crow.”
In the story, Seton relates how Silverspot would fly above him and vocalize to his flock. To test Silverspot’s intelligence, Seton, during separate times while standing on a bridge that spanned a ravine, stood alone one day, took with him a stick on another day, and stood on the bridge holding a gun on the third day. When he held the gun, Seton wrote, “… at once (Silverspot) cried out, ‘Great danger — a gun.’ ‘ca-ca-ca-ca Caw!’ His lieutenant repeated the cry, and every crow in the troop began to tower and scatter from the rest." See full article.

Vampire Bats Near Amazon Development Are Biting People

When people move into the natural habitat of a wild creature, conflict can arise. We hope the creatures don't get the worst of it.

Brian Nelson at Eco-Worldly reports:

"The problem is most prevalent in Peru, where vampire bats are native and development is increasing at unprecedented levels. The leechlike flying mammals are already common in areas where agricultural development is high, and large colonies of bats thrive near cattle ranches. But despite the fact that rabies can be widespread among bats in these regions, few people are bitten here compared to the rates being seen in newly developed Amazonia. The reason for the difference is probably that vampire bats prefer large, docile mammals like cattle. Where development is destroying the habitat of the animals that the bats prefer, such as in the Amazon, the bats must turn to the next best thing: people." See full article.

Humpback Whale Inspires New Wind Turbine Design

A new design for wind turbine blades was inspired by a whale and a work of art.

T. Goodman at InventorSpot.com reports:

"Frank Fish (yes, it's his real name), whose field just happens to be biomechanics, actually came about his observations of the humpback whale serendipitously when he saw a sculpture of a humpback with what he thought were misplaced tubercles on the whale's flipper. The artist had placed them on the "leading" edge of the flipper, not on the underside of the flipper, where Fish "knew" they should be because of his study of fluid dynamics (i.e, smooth edges are most aerodynamic). The artist was correct, however, and Fish's further research indicated that at least part of the science of fluid dynamics was wrong. The tubercle placement on the humpback whale's flippers and tail is a major part of the reason the great mammal is so aerodynamic

This tubercle design operationally keeps air attached to the blades, thereby managing the flow of air and increasing the lift of the blade -- two areas of concern in the development of wind turbines." See full article.

Large-Scale Squid Wash-Up Follows Quake

A recent California earthquake beached numerous squid causing public alarm.

San Diego News report:

"Dozens of dazed Humboldt squid, which were roughly three- to four-feet long and weighed close to 40 pounds, were found flapping around on La Jolla Shores beach. “It’s like their equilibrium is all messed up and they don’t know what they’re doing and they can’t back out there,” said beachgoer Bill Baumann. “It was like they got ... all shook up.” See full article.

Short Film: Baby Sea Turtle Release in Mexico

Here's something that will help you smile.

A Malibu (CA) based turtle rescue organization has instituted World Turtle Day -- (It was May 23, 2009). American Tortoise Rescue, has found homes for more than 3,000 turtles and tortoises since its inception in 1990.

Part of the 2009 celebration was a baby turtle release in Mexico.

LA Times: See article and short film.

The Case of The Mysterious Horseshoe Bat Nose

A sixty year anatomical mystery concerning a bat's nose is explained. Photo: Rolf Mueller

Cathy Taibbi Examiner.com reports:

"A research paper co-written by a Virginia Tech faculty member explains a 60-year mystery behind a rare bat's nose that is unusually large for its species. The findings soon will be published in the scientific trade journal, Physical Review Letters.

According to the release, Mueller's findings show that the bat uses its elongated nose to create a highly focused sonar beam. Bats detect their environment through ultrasonic beams, or sonar, emitted from their mouths -- or noses, as in the case of the paradoxolophus bat. The echoes of the sound wave convey a wealth of information on objects in the bat's environment. This bat from the remote rainforests of South East Asia received its name 58 years ago because of its mysterious trait." See full article.

Gorp's Top Ten National Parks for Viewing Wildlife

Gorp.away.com and Nicole Daro have developed a top ten list of National Parks for Wildlife Viewing. See full article.

Channel Islands
Glacier Bay
Denali
Glacier
Yellowstone
Rocky Mountain
Theodore Roosevelt
Big Bend
Isle Royale
Everglades

Prison Inmates Raise Endangered Frogs With Greater Success Than Experts!

Two prison inmates in Washington State have discovered they have an extraordinary knack for endangered species TLC. Photo: Mike Siegel, S. Times.

Jennifer Sullivan from the Seattle Times reports:

Since spring, Greer and fellow inmate Albert Delp have spent the bulk of their days inside a small fenced-off area at the Cedar Creek Corrections Center fussing over — and fattening — several dozen frogs. The two men are part of a project to bolster the dwindling population of the Oregon spotted frog, an animal once widespread in the Puget Sound area. The effort focuses on raising the frogs until they get big enough to no longer be a snack for natural predators. 'They would like to re-establish them back at Fort Lewis and I'm part of the project,' said Greer, who is serving time for robbery. With guidance from a senior researcher from the state Department of Fish and Wildlife and staff from nearby Evergreen State College, the two men started with 80 Oregon spotted frog eggs in early April. As the eggs grew into tadpoles then into frogs, the two men have been responsible for the frequent feedings and tank-water changes. The whole time they have taken detailed notes for state researchers. See full article.

White Whale Gets Its Own Special Exclusion Zone

A unique white humpbacked whale near Australia is getting some special privileges. Photo by: D. Burns.

Wire News Services reports:

"Australian authorities have warned the public to stay away from a rare white humpback whale named Migaloo that has made an appearance off the east coast. Officials in Queensland state have declared Migaloo a "special-interest whale" and banned anyone from coming within 500 metres of him. Anyone coming too close by boat, jet ski or aircraft will face a fine of ... (£8,000)." See full article.

Rare Fossilized Dinosaur Skin Offers Picture of Real Thing

A recent fossil find in North Dakota is bringing us closer to a 65 million year old creature.

Christopher Joyce of NPR reports:

"Phillip Manning and the young man who found the fossil, Tyler Lyson, spent years digging up the hadrosaur, funded in part by the National Geographic Society. Paleontologist Manning, from the University of Manchester in England, says he was "gobsmacked" by what they found.
'The tail is three-dimensional, intact. The skin is like a cone of skin slipped over the skeleton; it's beautiful. The arm is just ... it's like shaking hands with a dinosaur, the three-dimensional skin envelope runs all the way around from the hand all the way up to its armpit. It's quite remarkable.'" See full article.

Mysterious Three Foot Earthworm Up for Protection

The Giant Palouse Earthworm lives in the deep soils of the Palouse region or Idaho and Washington and has been seen only a few times over the course of a century. (Photo University of Idaho and AP archives)

The Star Telegram.com reports:

"Fans of the giant Palouse earthworm are again seeking federal protection for the rare, sweet-smelling species that spits at predators. Sightings of the worm have been reported only four times in 110 years, but supporters contend that it is still present in the Palouse, a region of about 2 million acres of rolling wheat fields near the Idaho-Washington border south of Spokane. Decades of intense agriculture and urban sprawl have wiped out much of the worm’s habitat, said Steve Paulson with Friends of the Clearwater. Only about 2 percent of the Palouse prairie remains in a native state, he said. The worm can reach 3 feet long, is white and reportedly possesses a unique lily smell, said Greenwald, who is based in Portland, Ore. It is the largest and longest-lived earthworm in North America." See full article.

Orangutan and Blue Tick Hound Become Fast Friends

A stray dog strolls into an endangered animal park and is immediately adopted -- by one of the endangered species!

Ki Mae Heussner for ABC News reports:

"Dr. Bhagavan Antle, founder of The Institute of Greatly Endangered and Rare Species (TIGERS) in Myrtle Beach, told the Daily Mail that Roscoe followed him and Suryia through the park's gate one day.

'As soon as he saw Roscoe, Suryia ran over to him and they started playing.' Antle said 'It was unusual because dogs are usually scared of primates; but they took to each other straight away.'
After a few unsuccessful phone calls to find an owner, Antle said they decided to let Roscoe stay."

Woodstork Rebirth in Everglades and Beyond

Recent increases in the numbers of nesting wood storks is giving rise to the debate about when an endangered species is no longer in peril. While developers would like to see protection rules for the species eased, conservationists would like to see the population with its long term stability better insured. Still the resurgence is positive. (Photo: Suzanne Mast, Miami Herald File)

The Miami Herald reports:

'''We haven't seen this kind of nesting efforts and eggs laid since the 1930s,'' said Dean Powell, director of watershed management for the South Florida Water Management District, which compiles an annual population assessment of wading birds.

One of the largest colonies -- more than 1,000 pairs -- still lives on the fringe of the Glades in the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary east of Naples, but more are now in smaller, scattered groups from North Florida to Georgia and South Carolina, two states where the birds were never found before the 1980s." See full article.

Rare Wolverine Caught on Camera on Mount Adams

The Cascades Carnivore Project has been stalking one of the least known and most rare mammals in North America -- with remote cameras. (Phot0 Cascades Carnivore Project) Check out their site for some other amazing pictures.

The Seattle Times reports:

"Photographed by a remote camera at 6,100 feet on the northwest slope of the mountain, [Mount Adams] the location of the animal that far south in Washington state was a surprise to wildlife biologists. The very few wolverines known to exist in Washington — only about 20 — have been sighted almost exclusively in the North Cascades.

Gulo gulo, dubbed "skunk bear" for its striped and pungent coat, was thought to be extinct that far south. It took 15 months of rugged field work just to get a picture of the animal." See full article.

Efforts to Save The Rare Pallid Sturgeon

A large white and very ancient fish lives in the waters of the Missouri River basin but it is becoming more rare.

The Constitution Tribune reports:

"Pallid sturgeon, which are distinctively almost snow white and Federally “endangered”, and lake sturgeon are the only two species of larger fish (the rest are minnows, darters and cavefish) that are classified as endangered under Missouri Wildlife Code 10-4.111 and anglers are not allowed to possess them. Anyone catching a pallid sturgeon is required to immediately release it.

The Missouri River Recovery Team project, a cooperative effort involving MDC and their Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska and Iowa counterparts plus the Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, and the U.S. Geological Survey, involves capturing pallid sturgeon in several locations in the Missouri River, one of the few rivers still containing any of this rare species" See full article.