Journal archives for May 2019

May 6, 2019

Why were birds missing from backyards during the super bloom?

Suzanne Mulcahy of Laguna Niguel became concerned when the hummingbirds in her yard disappeared around mid-April.

“I’ve always kept four feeders filled all the time,” she said. “There were birds at them continually. Then all of a sudden, my hummies (sic) were gone.”

Other bird enthusiasts had similar experiences with feathered friends disappearing from backyards when the spring season began blooming.

http://www.ocregister.com/why-were-birds-missing-from-backyards-during-the-super-bloom

Posted on May 6, 2019 01:13 AM by biohexx1 biohexx1 | 0 comments | Leave a comment

Most songbirds are harmless. This one is ferocious.

Is there a member of your extended family that doesn’t seem to fit in with everyone else? You know, the uncle that tells inappropriate jokes, an offensive cousin that wears the same clothes too many days in a row or an in-law that insists on sharing political views. You hate having to invite them to your holiday party but have no choice. They’d find out if you didn’t.

https://www.desertsun.com/story/desert-magazine/2019/05/06/most-songbirds-harmless-one-ferocious-meet-loggerhead-shrike/1095486001/

Posted on May 6, 2019 09:17 PM by biohexx1 biohexx1 | 0 comments | Leave a comment

May 7, 2019

Cape Town wins two categories in global City Nature Challenge.

Cape Town – Mother City residents have been "reminded how privileged we are to call this beautiful region of the world our home", says Mayor Dan Plato, who was commenting after Cape Town was named the official winner of two categories in the 2019 City Nature Challenge.
https://www.iol.co.za/capetimes/news/cape-town-wins-two-categories-in-global-city-nature-challenge-22777578

Posted on May 7, 2019 02:57 PM by biohexx1 biohexx1 | 0 comments | Leave a comment

Hundreds Of California Species At Risk Of Extinction, United Nations Report Says — In Addition To Millions Globally.

In California, there are around 300 species at risk and 346 species in California, Nevada and Southern Oregon combined. A handful of plants and animals have already disappeared from the state, such as the Santa Barbara song sparrow and the the California subspecies of the Grizzly Bear.

http://www.capradio.org/articles/2019/05/06/hundreds-of-california-species-at-risk-of-extinction-united-nations-report-says-in-addition-to-millions-globally/

Posted on May 7, 2019 08:55 PM by biohexx1 biohexx1 | 0 comments | Leave a comment

May 9, 2019

Why birds have different clutch sizes

The success of individual birds is measured by their contribution to the gene pool determined by the number of surviving offspring they produce. To determine the rate of offspring production, population biologists study fecundity — the number of eggs per nest (clutch size) and nests per year (broods).

https://www.birdwatchingdaily.com/news/science/why-birds-have-different-clutch-sizes/

Posted on May 9, 2019 04:30 AM by ungerlord ungerlord | 0 comments | Leave a comment

LA vs. SF? Which county has the greatest number of wild species? The answer may surprise you.

Usually, when Los Angeles competes with San Francisco, the City by the Bay wins by flaunting its European style, quaint trolley cars and if necessary, a championship Warriors team that has reigned over the NBA while L.A. round ball teams flounder.

Continuing that theme, the two cities faced off four years ago in an inaugural City Nature Challenge, which posed the question: Which city could enlist more community members to count wildlife during a two-day period in April.

http://www.dailynews.com/la-vs-sf-which-county-has-the-greatest-number-of-wild-species-the-answer-may-surprise-you

Posted on May 9, 2019 08:57 PM by biohexx1 biohexx1 | 0 comments | Leave a comment

Hi Mountain Condor Lookout volunteers and Cal Poly students help wildlife agencies track the endangered California condor.

At the first creek crossing, you know it’s not going to be a smooth ride up Hi Mountain Road. It’s steep and deep, with rivulets of earth carved out by heavy creek flows rolling up the other side.

This road was graded and re-opened to the public in 2018, but a winter of heavy rain flowing across packed dirt put deep grooves into the path of vehicles. Climbing into Los Padres National Forest, the ruts up ahead make the trek bouncy and slow-going. A high-clearance vehicle is a necessity. Four-wheel drive is recommended.

http://www.santamariasun.com/cover/18603/hi-mountain-condor-lookout-volunteers-and-cal-poly-students--help-wildlife-agencies-track-the-endangered-california-condor/

Posted on May 9, 2019 09:07 PM by biohexx1 biohexx1 | 0 comments | Leave a comment

Hi Mountain Condor Lookout volunteers and Cal Poly students help wildlife agencies track the endangered California condor.

At the first creek crossing, you know it’s not going to be a smooth ride up Hi Mountain Road. It’s steep and deep, with rivulets of earth carved out by heavy creek flows rolling up the other side.

This road was graded and re-opened to the public in 2018, but a winter of heavy rain flowing across packed dirt put deep grooves into the path of vehicles. Climbing into Los Padres National Forest, the ruts up ahead make the trek bouncy and slow-going. A high-clearance vehicle is a necessity. Four-wheel drive is recommended.

http://www.santamariasun.com/cover/18603/hi-mountain-condor-lookout-volunteers-and-cal-poly-students--help-wildlife-agencies-track-the-endangered-california-condor/

Posted on May 9, 2019 09:13 PM by biohexx1 biohexx1 | 0 comments | Leave a comment

May 11, 2019

California condors' numbers keep growing.

Dave Meyer is a California condor biologist with the Santa Barbara Zoo, and a graduate of UW-Stevens Point. Nicole Weprin is a wildlife biologist with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. They co-lead a field crew of about a dozen scientists at Bitter Creek National Wildlife Refuge in the Los Padres National Forest, about 100 miles northwest of Los Angeles. Along with the people who reside and work and recreate here, they are the California Condor Recovery Project.

https://www.leadertelegram.com/features/getting-out/close-encondors-of-the-bird-kind/article_88703a33-0c22-5bed-a118-5a06eb4f33bb.html

Posted on May 11, 2019 02:02 PM by biohexx1 biohexx1 | 0 comments | Leave a comment

May 14, 2019

LA Zoo Discovers New Breeding Technique for California Condors.

The discovery of a breeding technique for California condors never before tried by any other zoo should help increase the numbers of the critically endangered species, the Los Angeles Zoo announced Monday.

https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/california/LA-Zoo-New-Breeding-Technique-for-Endangered-California-Condors-509881901.html

Posted on May 14, 2019 11:45 PM by biohexx1 biohexx1 | 0 comments | Leave a comment