Rare Wildlife Spotter

Extremely Rare Fiji Petrel Spotted: Needs Protection

2009-09-10T17:31:00.001-07:00

A sea-going bird that is has been seen about a dozen times in the past 150 years was seen recently signaling the need for protective action.

News.com.au

"Known for its elusiveness, it was first identified on Fiji's Gau island by British surveyors in 1855 and was not seen again for 130 years.Since 1984 there have been a handful of reports of petrels injured after crashing into village roofs on Gau but never have the birds been seen at sea until now."Finding this bird and capturing such images was a fantastic and exhilarating experience," Hadoram Shirihai, who led the two-week search by the British Ornithologists' Club, said. A paper published this week is the first ever to detail how the species behaves, with the team hoping it could hold the key to the bird's survival. 'The present evidence is that very few Fiji petrels survive and that immediate efforts to find the nest sites are needed,' expedition member Tony Pym said." See full article.

Twenty "Strange" Endangered Species That Need More Attention

2009-09-05T07:43:00.000-07:00

Global warming is such a broad threat to the survival of wildlife that it helps to keep a broader view of what species need to be safeguarded. Here is a website that lists some fascinating creatures from around the world that are generally not getting high profile attention in the media.

The WebEcoist reports:

"The ugly redheaded stepchildren of the animal kingdom don’t get much attention compared to the perennial endangered animal favorites like pandas, polar bears, and owls. These are the cute, majestic, and otherwise emblematic creatures of the endangered species list. But there are hundreds more animal species on our wondrous planet that are critically threatened and need both publicity and support. From bats the size of bees to poison-slinging mammals, lizards that don’t eat for a decade to seals with giant inflatable faces, here are the 25 strangest, most bizarre, unusual and important endangered species living on the 'EDGE.'" See full listing.

Avoiding Airliner Bird Strikes Using Warning Lights

2009-08-17T18:01:00.000-07:00

Keeping birds away from airliners may be getting some help from a model airplane.

Robert Benincasa at NPR reports:

"When US Airways Flight 1549 made an emergency landing in the Hudson River in January after hitting geese, it turned the spotlight on so-called bird strikes — a longstanding problem of aircraft colliding with birds in flight. Airports try a lot of tricks to keep birds away, but now some researchers are shining light on a possible solution. At Plum Brook Station, a 6,000-acre, high-security government campus near Sandusky, Ohio, scientists are literally flying a plane at groups of geese and watching how they react. It's a radio-controlled model plane — a 9-foot wingspan aircraft that looks like a miniature Cessna. The plane has white, pulsating LED lights mounted on the front, to test the idea that aircraft lighting can signal birds to get out of the way of an approaching plane." See full article.

Rare Swift Foxes Being Returned to Montana"s Fort Peck Reservation

2009-08-16T19:00:00.000-07:00

In September, swift foxes will be returned to the Assiniboine and Sioux Fort Peck Reservation in Montana after a long absence.

The Missoulian reports:

"Declared extinct in Montana in 1969, the swift fox is already back on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation by way of an unusual reintroduction effort funded by the tribe and a private conservation group. Now the fox is bound for the Fort Peck Reservation as well. The smallest of the canids, swift foxes are no bigger than a house cat." (Photo: Defenders of Wildlife)

See full article.

Woodstorks Make Rare Appearance In Arkansas

2009-08-13T18:09:00.000-07:00

Wood stork populations have been increasing in Florida and other gulf states but they also seem to be moving up to Arkansas these days.

Joe Mosby at the Cabin.net reports:

"The main levees along the Mississippi River and along the lower Arkansas take adventurers into areas off the beaten path, yet the exploring can be done in relative comfort – in your vehicle. For fans of levee drives, August is special because it brings some unusual visiting birds. Wood storks and roseate spoonbills are just two of the species that sometimes can be found. But there are no guarantees to seeing them." See full article.

Bird Travels 8,000 Miles -- One Way!

2009-08-12T18:19:00.000-07:00

Some birds give new definition to the term "migration."

RedOrbit.com reports:

"A bar-tailed godwit, a bird banded near Victoria, Australia, was found more than 8,000 miles away in the western Arctic area of Alaska, wildlife experts said. While tagged birds are sometimes seen in the region where they were released, it's rare to see them so far from a release site. Wildlife Conservation Society scientists [reported] 'While we know that birds from all over the world come to the Arctic to breed, to see a living example first hand is a powerful reminder of the importance of this region,' said biologist Steve Zack, who spotted the godwit with biologist Joe Liebezeit. The ... godwit, a shorebird, was sighted this year while Zack and Liebezeit were searching for dunlins and semipalmated sandpipers tagged three years ago in nearby Prudhoe Bay, Alaska." See full article.

Help For The Declining Bee Population -- New Plastic Beehive

2009-08-08T13:53:00.000-07:00

In the UK they have launched a public program (using uniquely-designed boxes) to encourage homeowners and a gardeners to help raise bees to offset recent declines in their population numbers.

Physorg.com reports:

"There's no reason why our towns and cities should exist as wildlife deserts -- wildlife can thrive when we design our urban areas with nature in mind and the 'beehaus' is a great example of how easy it is for anyone to bring the natural world closer to their doorstep." Its makers Omlet claim that at one metre wide and 0.5 metres high (three feet wide and one foot eight inches high), the 'beehaus' is twice as big as a traditional beehive, giving plenty of room for the colony to grow in comfort. See full article.

Unusual Bald Bird Discovered

2009-07-30T20:45:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-30T20:25:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-27T19:47:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-23T20:06:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-22T18:36:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-20T20:49:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-20T20:02:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-20T17:33:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-16T16:22:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-11T06:28:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-10T05:33:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-08T18:54:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-07-08T17:13:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-07T18:16:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-05T08:02:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-05T07:43:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-02T09:22:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-02T08:58:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-02T08:46:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-02T08:33:00.000-07:00

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.

White Wallaby -- No Worries

2009-06-30T20:26:00.000-07:00

An all-white wallaby stands out in a crowd for sure.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports:

"A rare albino swamp wallaby has been found living on the edge of Kosciuszko National Park in NSW, a stone's throw from Perisher ski resort. National park field officers spotted the cute, fully-grown marsupial, thought to be between one and two years of age, while maintaining tracks just outside the national park boundary last week. Kosciuszko National Park ranger Andrew Miller said the well camouflaged 90cm tall animal had been spotted twice eating grass in the sub-alpine region. "It's the first time any of us around here have seen one around Kosciuszko,' he told AAP." See full article.

1941 Zoology Science Test: Some Things Change and Some Remain the Same.

2009-06-30T20:12:00.000-07:00

A 1941 science test found tucked away in an old science text tells us a few things about the evolving theory of evolution, what things were like before DNA information was in the picture and more.

Dan Vergano of USA Today reports:

Some of us might rather forget our old science exams. But sometimes they still have lessons to offer. For example, take a 1941 exam unearthed by one anatomy professor. The test is a relic of a simpler time that tells us a lot about the evolution of studying evolution.

What makes the 1941 test a fossil in its own right is that it doesn't mention DNA, or molecular biology, in its questions about evolution. ... As we all recall, tests work up to hard questions, and the 11th one on the 1941 exam asks whether whole new classes of back-boned species arise from unique, fairly recent ancestors or from early, more primitive life. "That's still a really big question today," See full article.

Young Eagle Sees Dog as Prey

2009-06-29T19:08:00.000-07:00

A Jack Russell Terrier recently had a run in with a young bald eagle and got the worst of the encounter.

Hometown Annapolis.com reports:

"Trubee and Jurchison (dog's owners) suspect the eaglet spotted Moby as a potential meal and tried to fly off with him. They reason that Moby, who is mostly white, was a visible target against the green grass. Perhaps the eaglet didn't realize just how heavy the dog was.

'Who would have thought a raptor would swoop down and try to take your dog?' Trubee said. Moby suffered puncture wounds all over his body, which are now healing with the help of an antibiotic and painkillers from the veterinarian. see full article.

Seafaring Florida Reptiles Draw Interest

2009-06-28T20:26:00.000-07:00

Two reptiles have been spotted in the sea off Brevard County Florida. Two differnt species and both a bit out of place. (Photo by: S. Harp, Florida Today)

J.D. Gallop at Florida Today reports:

"Experts say ... mystery tracks left behind [on the beach] ... likely belonged to a 5- to 6-foot-long alligator. The rare beachside tracks also were the latest incident in which alligators -- along with a crocodile caught during the weekend in waist-deep waters beneath the Cocoa Beach Pier -- made their presence known in the ocean waves off Brevard County. Typically, alligators shy away from salt water -- the habitat of sharks, sea turtles and other species more familiar to beachgoers -- while crocodiles, which thrive in saltwater environments, stick to the coastal areas farther south of Brevard. 'It is unusual,' Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission biologist Lindsey Hord said, referring to the sightings. 'With the crocodiles, we're on the northern periphery of its habitat range. But animals are always pushing, trying to get into new areas.'"

Rare Look at a Giant Sunfish on New Zealand Beach

2009-06-28T20:10:00.000-07:00

A ocean-going tropical sunfish is really quite something to see. They average about 2,000 pounds and look alot like a giant fish head with a tail. They have a reputation for being surface sunners but usually they feed (mostly on jellyfish) at great depths as much as 2,000 feet.

One recently washed up on a New Zealand beach and provided a close look.

Vanessa Phillips for the Nelson Mail reports:

Tourists being guided along Farewell Spit were mesmerised by more than just the area's natural beauty yesterday. A large sunfish, about 2 metres long, and 2m wide from fintip to fintip, was spotted as Farewell Spit Eco Tours driver John Stevens was heading towards the spit with a busload of tourists. The dead sunfish was on the intertidal plain of the spit, about one kilometre on the Collingwood side of Puponga township." See full article.

Cops Uncover 5,000 Stolen Bird Eggs in One Home

2009-06-26T17:50:00.000-07:00

Scottish law enforcement agents learned just how serious a problem bird egg thiefs (called "eggers") can be to species survival.

The Edinbugh Evening News reports"

"Investigatore say it will take a painstakingly long time to sift through a huge haul of more than 5000 birds' eggs discovered at a Lothians home. Wildlife crime officers from two forces and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) were involved in the operation to uncover the eggs, which has been described as one of the biggest finds yet in the Lothians. ... Rare breeding species particularly vulnerable to egg collectors include Slavonian and black-necked grebes, ospreys, white-tailed eagles, red kites, and red-necked phalaropes." See full article.

First Study of Rare Egg-laying Mammal

2009-06-25T19:54:00.000-07:00

An elusive nocturnal mammal has finally been studied.

Science Daily reports:

"A Wildlife Conservation Society research intern working in the wilds of Papua New Guinea has successfully completed what many other field biologists considered "mission impossible"—the first study of a rare egg-laying mammal called the long-beaked echidna.

The long-beaked echidna is found only in New Guinea and is a member of the monotremes, a primitive order of mammals that forced zoologists to change their very definitions of what a mammal is. Unlike all other mammals, monotremes like the echidna (also called the spiny anteater) and the better known platypus lay eggs." See full article.

Roseate Spoonbill In Indiana

2009-06-24T18:41:00.000-07:00

A bird that lives in Florida seems to ahve ventured into the Hoosier State. (Photo: St. Louis Zoo)

The Greene County Daily World reports:

"On June 2, Goose Pond Fish and Wildlife Area became the first location in the state to record the sighting of a Roseate Spoonbill. .... the June 2 sighting is the only confirmed sighting of a Roseate Spoonbill ever in Indiana. The excitement of the occasion had birdwatchers from all across Indiana and a few from Illinois traveling to Goose Pond to get their view of the unique bird." See full article.

Rare Sea Turtle Lays Eggs in Florida

2009-06-23T18:46:00.000-07:00

A group of campers saw an unusual site in a Florida state park. (Photo by: Katie Dickey/Special to the Democrat)

Tallahassee.com reports:

"During a visit to the Franklin County park earlier this month, educator Elizabeth Franklin Waller and some middle-school campers spotted a Kemp's Ridley sea turtle on the beach. Of the seven species of sea turtles, the Kemp's Ridleys are considered the most endangered, according to The Sea Turtle Restoration Project. Katie Dickey, 15, a soon-to-be sophomore at Godby High School, was one of several students who captured photos and footage of the sea turtle, as it began to lay eggs." See full article.

Falcons Rebound in Vermont

2009-06-22T18:15:00.000-07:00

The return of Peregrine Falcons to New England offers promise. Photo by: Peter Larsen

The Burlington Free Press reports:

"Thirty years ago, 60 Vermont cliffs and quarries had emptied of the falcons that once nested there. The birds had been wiped out by DDT, the now-banned pesticide that accumulated in animal tissue and thinned the shells of bird eggs.

Peregrines, small but aggressive hunters, sit at the top of the avian food chain and thus accumulated high concentrations of DDT from their prey. Nest after nest went silent in the 1940s and ’50s, until the birds were gone.Today, many bird species are in steep decline, but peregrines — along with loons, osprey and bald eagles — offer rare good news.Falcons were reintroduced in New England in the 1980s and have thrived. Thirty-eight pairs nested in Vermont this year and have produced at least 50 chicks." See full article.

First Wolverine in Ninety Years Ventures Into Colorado

2009-06-20T18:05:00.000-07:00

Wolverines are known for being wideranging loners with somewhat bad tempers. One has ventured into Colorado after a long absense.

The DenverPost reports:

"A solo wolverine, perhaps in search of a mate, has traveled more than 500 miles to northern Colorado, the first confirmed sighting of the species here since 1919.

Bob Inman, director of the Wildlife Conservation Society's Yellowstone Wolverine Program, said the animal, tagged M56 and fitted with a radio collar in December, went on the move in April.
He traveled from Grand Teton National Park, crossing busy Interstate 80 in southern Wyoming, to reach timberline in the mountains of northern Colorado. 'It is great news that this animal has ventured into Colorado, where it hasn't been documented in 90 years, but it also underscores the need to manage this species at a multi-state scale,'" Inman said. See full article.

Rare Warbler Returns After 139 Year Absence

2009-06-19T20:20:00.000-07:00

It is so wonderful to get some good news about nature. A bird that was thought gone shows up again 14 decades later. Photo: Philip Round/The Wetland Trust.

Science Daily Reports:

"The Large-billed Reed-warbler is the world’s least known bird. A single bird was collected in the Sutlej Valley, Himachal Pradesh, India, in 1867, but many had questioned whether it was indeed represented a true species and wasn’t just an aberrant individual of a common species.
But on 27 March 2006, ornithologist Philip Round, Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology, Mahidol University, was bird ringing (banding) at a wastewater treatment centre (the royally initiated Laem Phak Bia Environmental Research and Development Project) near Bangkok, Thailand." See full article.

Utah is the Place to See California Condors

2009-06-18T18:31:00.000-07:00

The Califonia Condor is a rarity in nature but there is a place in Utah where they can usually be seen.

The Spectrum.com reports:

“'Condor activity in Utah has increased dramatically over the past five years,' says Keith Day, regional sensitive species biologist for the DWR. 'It’s not unusual to see 24 birds in Utah in the summer months, but 54 condors were here one day last August. That’s very exciting when you consider how rare this bird is,' Day says. Of the 320 California condors in the world, just over half are free-flying, and only half of those are found in Utah and Arizona. That means on any given day, you have the potential of seeing one-sixth of the world’s wild population of California condors right here in Southern Utah."'

"To reach the viewing site, take state Route 9 to Virgin. Turn off at the Kolob Reservoir turnoff in Virgin and travel north through Zion National Park. The viewing site is 21½ miles from Virgin near Kolob Reservoir. After you’ve traveled 21½ miles, look for a parking area on the south side of the road." See full article.

The Four Most Unusual Fish on Earth

2009-06-16T15:55:00.000-07:00

There are fish and there are FISH!

markuses at Science Ray.com lists the "four most unusual on Earth" including the Whale Shark (some reported as large as 50 to 70 feet in length), the Stone Fish and others. See the list.

Rarest of Cockatoos Rediscovered

2009-06-16T15:42:00.000-07:00

A U.S. all-volunteeer non-profit organization in Indonesia has rediscovered a lost bird.

City Parrots.org reports:

"The world’s rarest cockatoo has been found in Indonesia. A research team on behalf of the Indonesian Parrot Project rediscovered the Yellow-crested Abbott’s cockatoo this summer in the Masalembu Archipelago. This archipelago is in the remote Java Sea... Parrots are the most endangered bird family. A number of the parrots threatened with extinction are found only in Indonesia. Four of the five cockatoo species listed on the highest category of protection by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species are found in Indonesia. Of these, the Yellow-crested cockatoos (Cacatua sulphurea) are the most imperiled." See full article.

Whooping Crane "Retired" to Zoo After Becoming Too Tame

2009-06-14T15:35:00.000-07:00

When a wild animal gets too attached to humans it may mean it is no longer wild.

Barbara Behrendt at the The St. Petersburg Times reports:

"The whooping crane known as 710 symbolizes what goes wrong when people feed wildlife. The rare crane spent the winter in Spring Hill. But instead of foraging for food in the wild, he was nourished on bird feeders kept by nearby residents. When 710 returned to Wisconsin in early spring, the bird again turned to humans. He began to visit the ethanol plant five miles away from the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge, where truckloads of corn are delivered daily. Too tame to live in the wild, the crane was returned to Florida this week, to live his life among humans, as an educational exhibit at Lowry Park Zoo." See full article.

Dramatic Trout Evacuation In New Mexico

2009-06-13T19:04:00.000-07:00

This time when horsmen came to the rescue, it was to relocate trout.

Associated Press reports:

"As a lightning-sparked fire charred thousands of acres in southwestern New Mexico, biologists and firefighters used helicopters and trucks for an unusual evacuation. They captured 250 Gila trout — a threatened species — from a creek in southwestern New Mexico and are moving them to a hatchery in the opposite corner of the state. Biologists rode to the creek on horseback, then used electroshocking devices to temporarily stun the trout so they could quickly scoop them into a net. See full article.

Yellow Color Saves Rare Lobster -- From the Chef

2009-06-13T05:54:00.000-07:00

In the wild, a color mutation can make a creature easier prey. But in a Boston restaurant kitchen the arrival of a rare, one in 30 million, "yellow" lobster may have saved it from the chef's pot. Photo by Julia Cumes AP

USA Today reports:

"Specialists tell The Boston Globe it's called a "yellow lobster" and it's one in 30 million. The lobster now named Fiona was recently caught off Canada. It was given by a friend to Nathan Nickerson, the owner of Arnold's Lobster and Clam Bar in Eastham, on Cape Cod. New England Aquarium director of research Michael Tlusty says a rare genetic mutation produces yellow lobsters." See full article.

Rare White Seal Found

2009-06-11T16:38:00.000-07:00

Albinism is frequent condition in nature but leucism is a different matter. Unlike albinism, it is caused by a reduction in all types of skin pigment, not just melanin. A one-of-a-kind white southern elelphant seal was spotted and tagged on a sub Antarctic beach and was confirmed as leucistis. (Note dark eyes).

BBC Earth News reports:

"The white seal, a young female, is leucistic, rather than albinistic. Albino animals lack pigment in just their eyes, or in their eyes, skin and hair, and they inherit the condition. Leucistic animals have little pigment and appear white all over, but with dark coloured eyes. The white seal has a uniformly creamy white coat of fur, with normal dark brown eyes and nose. Its whiskers, eyebrows and fingernails on its flippers are also light coloured compared to the species' usual dark colour. 'To our knowledge, we're the first to provided detailed evidence of such an animal anywhere,' says Ryan Reisinger of the University of Pretoria in South Africa" See full article

A Thousand-Pound Sea Turtle Loses its Compass

2009-06-11T15:52:00.000-07:00

A six-foot long Leatherback Turtle recently ended up swimming inland rather than out to sea in Florida.

First Coast News reports:

"Some wildlife experts gave up their Memorial Day morning to get him back on track. A Leatherback Sea Turtle wandered over old A1A (highway) in St. Johns County into the Summer Haven River. The turtle was nearly 1,000 pounds and 6-feet in length. It took 8 rescuers to move the creature." See article and slides of the rescue.

Florida Panther Shot

2009-06-10T18:21:00.000-07:00

An award has been offered to help find whoever recently shot a rare Florida Panther. Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlfie Service.

Wildlife Extra.com reports:

"A reward of up to $15,200 is being offered for information that leads to an arrest and/or a conviction in the shooting death of a Florida panther. The dead panther was found in April 2009 near the Hendry Correctional Institute on private property bordering the Big Cypress National Preserve in Florida. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) special agents and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) investigators are jointly investigating the case. There are only about 100 Florida panthers left in the world. The Florida panther is protected under the Endangered Species Act of 1973." See full article.

Rare Video of Basking Shark in Wild

2009-06-10T18:03:00.000-07:00

The Basking Shark is second only to the Whale Shark in size. One of these plankton-feeding fishing fish was measured 40 feet in length. Photo: Dan Burton.

BBC News reports:

2009 -- "The first basking sharks of the summer have been spotted off the Cornish coast.

As part of their annual migration they are now arriving in the hundreds. But do not be fooled - actually catching more than a fleeting glimpse of these elusive creatures is far harder than you imagine." One videographer caught the fish at (under) sea. See the article and the clip. Be patient -- the clip is proceeded by a 30 second ad.

Prince of Wales Declares War -- On Squirrels

2009-06-08T18:45:00.000-07:00

The Princes of Wales has called for all out war and eliminiation of grey squirrels in England.

Times OnLine reports:

"The Prince of Wales has asked landowners to wipe out grey squirrels from the countryside to protect red squirrels and to save native woodlands.
He told the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) that it was 'absolutely crucial to eliminate the greys'. The species was introduced to Britain from the US in the 19th century and has a population estimated at 3.3 million, compared with 160,000 reds.
In a letter to Sir Henry Aubrey-Fletcher, the CLA president, the Prince blamed grey squirrels for the “immense and increasing damage” to woods and wildlife across the country.

The Prince, who is patron of the Red Squirrel Survival Trust, said: 'I do pray you can help me with this task as it would make all the difference not only to the survival of an iconic native species, but also to the success of all our efforts to restore and enhance our native hardwoods.'" See full article.

Goats Enlisted to Protect Endangered Turtles

2009-06-07T17:49:00.000-07:00

That's right -- goats! When mowing practices were found dangerously harmful to bog turtles in Maryland a differrent (more ancient) mowing technique was employed.

The Baltimore Sun reports:

"The State Highway Administration has come up with a creative solution to the question of how to cut the grass in the vicinity of its Hampstead Bypass project without imperiling the already-threatened bog turtle (above) and its Carroll County habitat: goats.

The agency is using a local farmer's herd of 40 goats to act as four-legged lawnmowers in the construction zone. It said traditional mechanical lawnmowers posed a danger to both the boggy wetlands and the reptiles themselves. According to the SHA, it considered using cattle but decided they were too big to interact safely with the 4-inch bog turtle." See full article.

Western Canada's Spirit Bear

2009-06-06T16:55:00.000-07:00

The legendary spirit bear recently came into lens-eye view of photographer Steve Kozlowski.

The Daily Mail reports:

"Once thought to exist only in Native American mythology, the Spirit Bear, or Kermode Bear, is now recognised as an off-shoot of the American Black Bear population that lives in the lush coastal forests of British Columbia. Amongst wildlife photographers it is considered rare if not virtually impossible to photograph one of these blonde, or white black bears, due to their scarcity.

One such photographer was Steve Kozlowski, who travelled along Canada's wild Pacific coast to catch a glimpse of these legendary beasts. 'I set out to travel to the last area where a small population of Spirit Bears is known to exist near Princess Royal Island on the British Columbia coastline,' says Steve, 39, who has been photographing wildlife for the past 18 years." See article.

A Change in Shipping Lanes Will Help Save Rare Right Whales

2009-06-05T19:33:00.000-07:00

The federal government is re-routing shipping lanes in Boston Harbor to help out endangered whales.

The New York Times Reports:

"The harbor is a busy area for both shipping and whales. More than half of the world's North Atlantic right whales congregate in the area each spring. And the port hosts about 3,500 trips each year by ships carrying everything from merchandise to natural gas.

Under the changes by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the U.S. Coast Guard, large ships more than 300 gross tons will be required from April through July to avoid an area where the whales feed. And ships coming from the south will be required to enter Boston Harbor from a slightly different path. The shipping lane will give a wider berth of protection for the whales." See full article.

Ancient Marsupial Lion Caught in Painting!

2009-06-03T17:33:00.000-07:00

In the Land Down Under, marsupial mammals are predominant. An ancient and formidabl creature, that had only been known through its fossils, turns out to have posed for a portrait!

Live Science.com reports:

"until about 30,000 years ago, the continent was ruled by Thylacoleo carnifex, the marsupial 'lion.' Several well-preserved skeletons of the leopard-size beast have been found. Now, a newly discovered cave painting offers a glimpse of the animal's external appearance.In June 2008, Tim Willing, a naturalist and tour guide, photographed an ancient painting on a rockshelter wall near the shore of northwestern Australia. Kim Akerman, an independent anthropologist based in Tasmania, says the painting unmistakably depicts a marsupial lion." See full article.

The Everglades Python Problem

2009-06-03T17:21:00.000-07:00

Invasive species are a problem in any state. But, south Florida is having a particular problem with Burmese Pythons.

The Herald Tribune reports:

"Meg Lowman, a biologist based in Sarasota County, reported that about 200 pythons were captured in or near the Everglades National Park from 2002 to 2005. By 2006, the number was 418. By last year, the python population in the Glades was out of control and biologists estimated there were at least 30,000 of them." See full article.

The World's Ten Rarest Animals

2009-06-01T18:09:00.000-07:00

Green Expander.com -- has researched and developed a list of the ten rarest animals in the world -- all on the brink of extinction. Includes turtles, bats, cats, marmots, wombats and more.

GreenExpander reports:

"Endangered, hunted, smuggled and now some would say abandoned, these animals have the smallest chances of recovery out off all the Earth’s creatures. Last year, studies shown that there are at least 35 different animals with world populations of under 1000. But which are the rarest, the animals on the brink of extinction? We have rounded up a list of 10 of the rarest animals in the wild. See the list.

An Ocean-Going Deer (or Two)

2009-05-31T18:55:00.000-07:00

Beach-goers in coastal Delaware were perplexed when a deer came onto the beach and jumped in and out of the water. (Photo is of a different deer found (and rescued) 1 mile off shore.)

Wildlife experts have seen it before.

The Baltimore Sun reports:

"That's the message from authorities at Delaware's beaches after a white-tail was seen frolicking in the surf at Rehoboth Beach on Memorial Day weekend.Paul Faircloth, park superintendent at Cape Henlopen State Park, says deer are actually good swimmers, although they rarely venture into salt water. Joe Rogerson, the deer biologist with the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, notes that deer have hollow hair, making them buoyant in the water." See full article.

Blue Whales Singing to The Big Apple!

2009-05-29T19:26:00.000-07:00

A few months ago, scientists, monitoring ocean sounds 13 miles off New York City, heard blue whales -- the largest animal in the world and were more than surprised.

Science Daily.com reports:

"For the very first time in New York coastal waters, the voices of singing blue whales have been positively identified. Acoustic experts at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Bioacoustics Research Program (BRP) and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) confirmed that the voice of a singing blue whale was tracked about 70 miles off of Long Island and New York City on Jan. 10-11, 2009, as the whale swam slowly from east to west. At the same time, a second blue whale was heard singing offshore in the far distance.

During 2008-2009, ten of Cornell’s acoustic recorders were deployed about 13 miles from the New York Harbor entrance and off the shores of Fire Island to study the acoustic environment of New York waters and examine whether noises, including shipping traffic, are affecting the whales

Sturgeon Return to Detroit River

2009-05-29T19:20:00.000-07:00

Pollution, dams and other obstructions have laegely wiped out lake sturgeon spawning in many areas.

The Toledo Blade reports:

"Spawning by lake sturgeon in Canadian waters of the Detroit River has been confirmed for the first time in 30 years, boosting hopes for continued recovery of this rare, ancient species in the river and adjoining waters of western Lake Erie.

The spawning is occurring on a reef built last fall at the head of Fighting Island, across from Wyandotte, Mich., under an American-Canadian partnership." See full article.

Bangladesh Dolphins "Back From the Dead"

2009-05-29T18:09:00.000-07:00

Some 6,000 freshwater dolphins, thought to be gone, have been found again. (photo from Treehugger.com)

One World South Asia reports:

"The discovery of the Irrawaddy dolphins in Bangladesh that were once considered dead has raised concerns over the huge gaps in local research. Conservationists say the Bay of Bengal, a hotspot for this endangered species from declining freshwater flows and fishing nets requires a definite survey and protection network.

Nearly 6,000 Irrawaddy dolphins were discovered in freshwater regions of Bangladesh's Sundarbans mangrove forest and the nearby waters of the Bay of Bengal, the New York-based Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) has said in a report." See full article.

Rare Heermann's Gull Mugged by Tourist?

2009-05-28T17:41:00.000-07:00

An endangered Heermann's gull was allegedly attacked and beaten by a man from Kansas visiting Laguna Beach after he claimed it took ice cream from his wife.

The OC Register reports:

"Laguna Beach police reported that Djuric and his wife were eating ice cream on Main Beach when one bird hit his wife's head and tried to grab the ice cream. Djuric, who had been defecated on, began waving a stick and hitting the birds, Laguna Beach police Sgt. Jeff Calvert said.
However, a Fish and Wildlife Service review of the witness statements showed that the ice cream fell on its own and when the birds came to eat it, Djuric hit the birds with a stick, Ed Newcomer with the Fish and Wildlife said. The birds were not attacking and Djuric's actions were not in self-defense, he said. The Heermann's gull, which had a broken wing, was taken to the Wetland and Wildlife Care Center in Huntington Beach, where it was euthanized." See full article.

Blue Whales on the Move Again Off BC

2009-05-27T18:16:00.000-07:00

The largest and one of the most rare animals on earth is reoccupying some of its former territories.

LiveScience.com reports:

"Blue whales, the world's largest animals, are on the move. These marine mammals migrated from California waters to areas off Canada and Alaska for the first time since commercial whaling ended in 1965, researchers announced recently.The researchers identified 15 blue whales that have appeared off the coast of British Columbia and the Gulf of Alaska since 1997. Four of these whales were recognized as ones that were also sighted off California shores (in Santa Barbara Channel and at Bodega Bay, north of San Francisco), suggesting that the whales are returning to an old migration pattern between the coasts. See full article.

Rare Daytime Florida Panther Film

2009-05-27T18:05:00.000-07:00

There are only about 100 panthers in Florida and to see one in the daytime is very rare indeed.

NBC-2.com reports:

"Volunteers at the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary caught a rare sight on video. The volunteers saw a Florida panther strolling on the sanctuary boardwalk and one of the volunteers recorded it on video. The volunteers said the panther walked on the boardwalk for almost half a mile before jumping off and disappearing. Fish and Wildlife biologists say it’s extremely rare to see an endangered Florida panther, and especially during the daylight and to catch it on video." See the video

Does a Mocking Bird Have a Grudge Against You?

2009-05-25T16:55:00.000-07:00

It might .. if you have ever posed a threat. A new study finds the birds remember human faces and will act agreesively toward those who may have bothered it in the past. Photo by BadJoby

Javno.com and the Guardian report:

"Mockingbirds can remember people who threatened them before and can attack them if they spot them, scientists proved in a study, Guardian writes.

The urban bird population ignored most passers-by, but were excited when they recognised people who previously approached their nest and started circling over their heads. The unusual behaviour of mockingbirds is considered to prove that wild animals recognise individuals of other species in their natural habitat." See full article.

Tasmanian Devil Has its Own Devil to Face

2009-05-24T19:30:00.000-07:00

Australia's marsupials have fascinated zoologists for centuries. The Tasmainian Devil is among the most unusual. Now it is endangered.

The Fresno Bee reports:

"The Tasmanian devil, a snarling fox-sized marsupial made notorious by its Looney Tunes cartoon namesake Taz, was listed in Australia as an endangered species Friday because of a contagious cancer that has wiped out most of the wild population.

The upgrade from "vulnerable" under Australian environmental law entitles the world's largest marsupial carnivore to greater protection in the island state of Tasmania, Environment Minister Peter Garrett said in a statement. Devils do not exist in the wild outside Tasmania, although mainland zoos are breeding captive populations as a strategy against total extinction." See full article.

The Debate Over The Four-Second Ivory Billed Film

2009-05-24T18:48:00.000-07:00

The exuberance ornithologists felt when they thought they had found an Ivory Billed Woodpecker in Arkansas a couple of years ago has been replaced by frustration at not being able to verify the sighting. A film of the bird they believe is an Ivory Bill has been challenged by skeptics. Take a look yourself and you be the judge.

National Public Radio reports:

"the evidence is a four-second video taken in 2004 from a canoe in Arkansas' Cache River National Wildlife Refuge. It shows a perched bird partly behind a tree trunk. The bird then takes off and flies away from the camera.

It has become the Zapruder film of the birding world (Zapruder being the man whose home movie of the Kennedy assassination kept analysts busy for decades). Scientists at Cornell University say the pattern of white on the bird's wings is unique to an ivory-billed woodpecker. Skeptics say it's just a pileated woodpecker, which is a lovely bird, but as common as rice at a wedding." See film for yourself.

"Missing Link" Found -- Earliest Primate

2009-05-23T13:36:00.000-07:00

A fossil of the earleist primate relative ever found was unearthed and displayed to the media recently. Some think of it as another missing link in the long story of human development.

The Wall Street Journal reports:

"Researchers ... unveiled the fossil of a 47 million-year-old creature that offered clues about what some of our earliest ancestors might have looked like. The animal was the size of a cat, had a long tail, and died at nine or 10 months old. Several of its features can be commonly seen in modern-day primates, including baby teeth and an opposable big toe. Instead of claws, "she's got fingertips with nails like we do," said Jorn Hurum of the Natural History Museum in Oslo, who led the research.

The fossil was displayed to the media and a small number of invited guests at New York's American Museum of Natural History in an event hyped to an unusual degree for a scientific unveiling. Visitors to the museum will be able to see a replica cast of the fossil.
It is a rare and valuable discovery because it is a nearly intact skeleton." See full article.

Top Ten Newly Discovered Species for 2009

2009-05-23T08:38:00.000-07:00

An Institute at Arizona State University focuses on the importance of discovering new species and draws public attention to this through an annaul "top ten" list. The list this year includes the world's longest insect and tinest (pea-sized) seahorse.

ASU Institute for Species Exploration reports:

"Millions of species remain unknown or unidentifiable, inaccessible to science and society. Charting the species of the world and their unique attributes are essential parts of understanding the history of life. Reliable taxonomic information is necessary for managing sustainable ecosystems, attaining conservation goals, and detecting introductions of pests, vectors and invasive species.

Traditional taxonomic tools and methods have theoretical rigor and rich intellectual content, but are not keeping pace with this growing need for knowledge. How can we increase the pace at which species exploration progresses while maintaining the scientific rigor of traditional taxonomy"? See top list.

Sperm Whale in the Gulf of Mexico

2009-05-20T18:29:00.000-07:00

The toothed sperm whale -- the legendary creature of Moby Dick -- is commonly seen in the deep, cold waters of the North Atlantic but a sighting in the warm and shallow waters of Florida is rare.

The Charlotte Sun reports:

"A local charter boat captain and his crew were heading out on Boca Grande Pass after fishing for bait early Saturday when they got the surprise of their lives:

A whale, estimated at 40 feet to 50 feet, rolled and blew saltwater spray within 30 feet of the boat just 3 miles west of Boca Grande Pass.

'It's very rare,' said Capt. John Wood, who runs a charter boat business, Offshore Express, out of Marine Dynamics in Englewood. 'I've never seen one here in 15 years of doing this. We saw an awesome sight.' Wood shot video of the 7 a.m. sighting while the whale swam close to the surface in 20 feet to 25 feet of water. Also in the area early Saturday was Capt. Joe LeClair, who works out of Boca Grande. LeClair has seen six different whale species in Massachusetts, but never a sperm whale up close or in Gasparilla Island area waters." See full article.

Rare Greater Sandplover Causes Nationwide "Bird Rush."

2009-05-20T14:45:00.000-07:00

Most people would not think that a little brown bird (LBB) on a Florida beach would cause people to come from as far as California and line up just for a peek.

The Orlando Sentinal reports:

"Rarely has a single beach bird caused such a stir. But bird-lovers are flocking to Jacksonville for a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see this one.A Greater Sandplover, a bird that normally inhabits the sandy steppes of Asia, has been sighted at a Jacksonville park, making what birders say is only its second confirmed appearance in the Western Hemisphere. Bird-watchers from throughout Florida and the country have rushed to Huguenot Memorial Park, hoping to get a rare glimpse of a bird that apparently flew across an ocean and a continent." See full story.

North Carolina Mountain Home to Flying Squirrels

2009-05-19T21:11:00.000-07:00

Flying squirrels are one of the most interesting mammals in North America. I some areas they are become more numerous.

GoBlueRidge.net reports:

Surveys were conducted at Grandfather Mountain to count the number of Northern flying squirrels, a North Carolina endangered species.

The Mountain teamed up with representatives from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission to locate and record sightings of the nocturnal animal.

Eighty-eight squirrel boxes were checked along Grandfather's Daniel Boone Scout Trail, Profile Trail and in-park trails. A total of 26 squirrels were found in the boxes."It's an incredible number," said Grandfather Mountain Naturalist Jesse Pope. "It was by far the most squirrels I've ever seen while checking the boxes." See full article.

Sea Otters Back in Oregon After 103-Year Absence

2009-05-19T20:58:00.000-07:00

The appearance of a species in a an unexpected place can be a joy to some and a worry to others.

RegisterGuard.com reports:

The confirmed sighting of a sea otter in Depoe Bay last month generated wild excitement. The species, after all, was thought to have been extinct in Oregon for a century — even by wildlife experts.

But the creature seen lolling in the surf as he munched on a crab wasn’t actually the first confirmed sighting in 103 years. It was just the first one about which the media went and blabbed all over tarnation.

The people who knew about previous otter sightings had kept their mouths shut.
U.S. Fish & Wildlife biologist Roy Lowe knew sea otters had resurfaced in Oregon from time to time, despite the failed attempt to reintroduce a thriving population here in the 1970s. He just preferred that the fact be kept as quiet as possible. See full article.

Recovering Eagle Populations Feeding on Rare Great Cormorants

2009-05-18T20:35:00.000-07:00

When conservationists succeed in helping a species recover from near extinction there is reason for celebration. In this case, however, another rare species may be taking an unexpected brunt.

USA Today reports:

Bald eagles, bouncing back after years of decline, are swaggering forth with an appetite for great cormorant chicks that threatens to wipe out that bird population in the United States.

The eagles, perhaps finding less fish to eat, are flying to Maine's remote rocky islands where they've been raiding the only known nesting colonies of great cormorants in the U.S. Snatching waddling chicks from the ground and driving adults from their nests, the eagles are causing the numbers of the glossy black birds to decline from more than 250 pairs to 80 pairs since 1992. See full article.

Pelican Summers in Kentucky Lake

2009-05-18T05:26:00.000-07:00

Every now an again us bird watchers are treated to a visit by a species that is beyond of the norm for a certain location.

The Courier Journal Reports:

"Tom and Carol Stroud of Louisville reported spotting a brown pelican at Lake Cumberland last week.

State wildlife officials were skeptical, but Carol Stroud produced a photograph that removed all doubt.

'When I heard about it, I assumed it was a white pelican,' said John Brunjes, who works with the migratory bird program for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. "We get several reports of white pelicans each year."

Brown pelicans, however, are extremely rare in Kentucky. The juvenile bird documented by the Strouds is only the state's fifth confirmed sighting of a brown pelican, according to Burnjes." See full article.

Backyard Harp Seal

2009-05-17T19:18:00.000-07:00

Imagine the surpise when some folks in New Hampshire found a Harp Seal in the backyard.

The Newbury Port Daily News reported in February 2009:

A young Canadian harp seal was moved from an Atlantic Avenue backyard after it wandered up from the beach.

Tony LaCasse, a spokesman for the New England Aquarium, which was called to the scene to help relocate the animal, said the seal came out of the water and made its way about 200 yards across the sand dunes to get in the backyard. Since seals don't move well on land, that's a pretty hard feat, he said.

Marine biologists used the experience to educate the public about harp seals and how they differ from the more commonly spotted harbor seal. They also took it as a opportunity to share how the public should react when seeing a seal on land. See full article.

Rare Arizona Jaguar

2009-05-17T18:48:00.000-07:00

We know that the Jaguar is a rare species in any environment or location but the very rare wild U.S. specimans have just suffered a setback after being monitored.

Reuters reports:

An extremely rare U.S. jaguar recently fitted with a satellite tracking collar was recaptured and euthanized on Monday after veterinarians found it was suffering from a terminal disease, wildlife officials said.Officials with the U.S. and Arizona wildlife services said the male cat, which was first caught on Feb. 20 in a rugged area southwest of Tucson, was found to be suffering from untreatable kidney failure."It is a sad, but appropriate course of action to euthanize this animal given the hopelessly terminal nature of his condition," Steve Spangle, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Arizona field supervisor, said in a news release.

The animal, known as "Macho B," was thought to be 15 to 16 years old. Kidney failure is a common ailment in older cats, the news release said.Jaguars roam over a vast area ranging from northern Argentina in the south to the rugged borderland wildernesses of Arizona and New Mexico, where they were thought to have vanished until two confirmed sightings in 1996. See full article.

New Bouncing Fish called "Pyschedilica"

2009-05-17T18:35:00.000-07:00

A new species of fish has been indentified in Indonesian waters. Genetic testing verifies it.

Science Daily Reports:

"Psychedelica" seems the perfect name for a species of fish that is a wild swirl of tan and peach zebra stripes and behaves in ways contrary to its brethren. So says University of Washington's Ted Pietsch, who is the first to describe the new species in the scientific literature and thus the one to select the name.

Psychedelica is perhaps even more apt given the cockamamie way the fish swim, some with so little control they look intoxicated and should be cited for DUI.

Members of Histiophryne psychedelica, or H. psychedelica, don't so much swim as hop. Each time they strike the seafloor they use their fins to push off and they expel water from tiny gill openings on their sides to jettison themselves forward. With tails curled tightly to one side –which surely limits their ability to steer – they look like inflated rubber balls bouncing hither and thither." See full article.

What About a Pink Dolphin?

2009-05-17T18:26:00.000-07:00

There are many jokes about pink elephants and even though the calf in Botswana is the real deal, who ever heard of a pink dolphin?

Finding Dulcinea.com reports:

A pink bottlenose dolphin again surfaced in Louisiana’s Lake Calcasieu, an estuary north of the Gulf of Mexico. The dolphin, which gets its color from albinism, was seen by charter boat captain Erik Rue, who originally spotted and photographed it in June 2007.

Albinism is a rare condition seen in just 14 bottlenose dolphins since the first was spotted in 1962, according to the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration. It affects many species, including humans and 20 species of dolphins, whales and porpoises.“Very little is known about albino dolphins due to their extreme rarity.

What is known about albinism comes from humans,” explains the NOAA. “Albinism is a genetic predisposition, expressed as a lack of melanin pigments within the body. … This genetic trait is characterized by white or light skin and hair, the appearance of pink or red eye coloring and often-impaired vision.”The pink dolphin has attracted tourists to Lake Calcasieu, but conservationists warn that sightseers should be careful around it. See full article.

Baby Pink Elephant Seen

2009-05-17T18:04:00.000-07:00

Sometimes wildlife spotters have spots in front of their eyes -- and other times they may be seeing visions of pink elephants.

BBC reports:

A pink baby elephant has been caught on camera in Botswana.

A wildlife cameraman took pictures of the calf when he spotted it among a herd of about 80 elephants in the Okavango Delta.

Experts believe it is probably an albino, which is an extremely rare phenomenon in African elephants. They are unsure of its chances of long-term survival - the blazing African sunlight may cause blindness and skin problems for the calf. See full article.