Thursday, September 24, 2009

East African Crowned Crane hatched at Virginia Zoo

The Virginia Zoo hatched an East African crowned crane the week of August 20, 2009. It is too soon to tell if it is a boy or girl.

Monday, September 21, 2009

Safari sanctuary

According to researchers, Lo Go-Xa Mat supports significant populations of Germain’s Peacock Pheasants (Polyplectron germaini) and Siamese Firebacks (Lophura diardi). The area also serves as a stop-over for Sarus Cranes (Grus antigone) migrating between the Mekong Delta and Northern Cambodia.

Birds unveil 'silver wings'

by Matt Walker
Editor, Earth News

Some birds have silver wings, created by a previously unknown structure in their feathers, scientists have discovered.

A delicate arrangement of barbules creates a silver sheen upon otherwise dark feathers.

The effect is different to the usual iridescence that adds colour to the plumage of many birds.

Pelicans, ducks, vultures and cranes all possess these silver wings, which might indicate a bird's fitness.

Protecting Sandhill cranes


Tony Taber of Pacific Gas and Electric places one of about 700 bird flight diverters on power lines near the Sandhill Crane Preserve on Woodbridge Road west of Highway 5 on Friday. The glow-in-the-dark diverters hang from lines at about 80 feet apart and make the lines stand out in an attempt to prevent birds colliding with the lines.(Brian Feulner/News-Sentinel)

Saturday, September 19, 2009

New Beginnings... Premature Endings

The loss of the youngest chick, #931, reported in WH #48, was the first chick lost during training in nearly 4 years. However, last week pre-migration checks were being conducted, and another accident happened, brought on by the anxiety and struggle one young bird was having while being held for the exam

Muraviovka Park News - First half of September 2009

Friday, September 18, 2009

Vietnam's Rare Crane Habitat Is Under Threa

DONG THAP, Sept 12 (Bernama) -- The red-headed crane, known by Vietnamese people under the popular name hac, is the symbol of strength, faithfulness and longevity. But as a species, they might not have long to go.

Listed in the World's Red Book of Threatened Species, red-headed cranes flocked to Tam Nong Bird Sanctuary by the hundreds during the dry seasons of the 1990s, reported the Vietnam news agency.

The birdman of Waziristan

Tom Hussain, foreign correspondent

South Waziristan tribal agency, arguably the most dangerous place in Pakistan’s militant-infested north-west, has become the unlikely focal point of an impromptu bird conservation project involving a nature-loving tribesman and ornithologists across northern Europe.

DMZ Activists Need to Get Real

By Michael Breen

Ask anyone these days what should be done with the DMZ and they will tell you it should become a conservation area.