Animal Tears Give Clues to Conservation & Eye Treatment

Medicine & Technology Aug 13, 2020

Animal tears are found to be very similar to human tears, with a few biological differences depending on the environment. Researchers hope to develop better eye treatments as well as find ways to help conserve several bird and reptile species.

Alan Turing's Math Equations Used to Understand Bird Behavior

Aug 11, 2020

Alan Turing's mathematical equations, developed over six decades ago, have helped researchers understand why birds segregate themselves across a landscape.

Andean Condors Can Fly for Up to 100 Miles Without Flapping Its Wings Taking Advantage of the Air Currents

Jul 15, 2020

The world's largest bird flaps its wings only 1% of the time it flies and then relies on the power of air currents. A new study sheds light on how efficiently Andean condors stay aloft for hours and fly for up to 100 miles without flapping its wings.

Five Cuckoos were Satellite-tagged During their Migration

May 26, 2020

Five cuckoos had been recently trending on social media as followers tracked the travels of these satellite-tagged birds. Scientists from the Mongolia Cuckoo Project are calling this 'a mammoth journey.'

Scientists Discover the Origin of Acoustic Communication

Jan 20, 2020

Nowadays, it is commonplace to hear various animal sounds everywhere. But ever wondered how all those sounds came to be? That is the thought that John Weins and Zhuo Chen had when they published "The Origins of Acoustic Communication".

Miniaturization in Theropod Dinosaurs Paved the Way for Endothermy in Birds

Jan 16, 2020

Scientists have uncovered a possible explanation for the evolution of endothermy among birds -- and it's all relative to the creature's body size.

New Species and Subspecies of Birds Found in Wallacea

Jan 16, 2020

Archipelagos usually have a high endemism rate and these new discoveries from the Wallacea Region of Indonesia prove it.

Hummingbirds and their Brightly-Colored Feathers: Scientists Explain Why These Birds Are So Brightly-Colored

Jan 14, 2020

Hummingbirds are effortlessly among mature's most beautiful creatures and ornithologists have been wondering why its colors are so special. In a recent study by the Field Museum, scientists may now have an answer to an age-old question.

The Fukuipteryx, a New Species of Basal Bird Found in Japan, is Shaking The Avian Family Tree

Nov 16, 2019

The researchers were lucky to find a three-dimensional preserved pigeon-sized bird skeleton which can largely help in understanding the evolution of birds.

Climate Change Affects Migration of Birds

Nov 09, 2019

The rapid change in global temperature cause the planet's seasons to be volatile and this can affect the breeding patterns of birds.

Vulturine Guineafowl Exhibits Behavior Reflective of a Multilevel Society—Something Uncommon to Birds

Nov 08, 2019

In order for the team to support the claims of their study, they tracked social relationships during the course of the cross seasons for the 400-species population of Vulturine Guineafowl. After marking these birds, the team discovered that there are at least 18 distinct social groups within the population that are comprised of 13 to 65 individuals each.

New Study Shows the Extent of Global Illegal Wildlife Trade

Nov 08, 2019

Poaching has become a greater threat than previously thought. The study surveyed 30,000 species of mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians, and found out that the percentage of the illegally traded animals are 40-60% higher and will continue to rise unless stopped.

Darker Pigment in Bird Eggs Plays Important Role in Thermoregulation and Offspring's Survival

Nov 07, 2019

Birds in colder regions always lay darker eggs and it is because darker pigments tend to reflect sunlight less which is helpful in regulating heat.

A New Set of High-Speed Soft Robots Are Developed With Inspiration from Trap Mechanism Seen in Nature

Nov 01, 2019

The chameleon, the woodpecker, and the Venus flytrap trap their prey using stored elastic energy. This gave the researchers inspiration leading to the development of a new class of high-powered, high-speed soft robots.

Newer Wind Turbine Design May Decrease Bird Fatalities, Study Finds

Oct 21, 2019

A taller and shorter-bladed wind turbine may decrease bird mortality rates from getting caught within the blades.