During the research for a paper in the Journal of Ornithology < link >, Stephen Pruett-Jones, Jennifer Uehling and Jason Tallant found that of the 190 parrot species < link > that have been imported to the U.S. since the 1950s and 1960s, 56 have been spotted in the wild 43 states. Twenty-five of those species have established breeding populations. The monk … [Read more...]
Antibiotic influence persists in the environment long after they’ve done their duty
Antibiotics’ influence persists in the environment long after they've done their duty, according to recent studies that revealed a global problem with drugs found in major rivers. The samples were screened for 14 different types of commonly used antibiotics. No continent was immune. Researchers found traces of at least one drug in 65 percent of all the samples they studied … [Read more...]
Skin-eating fungi destroying frogs and salamanders globally
A new study, published in Science, is the first comprehensive tally of the damage done by the chytrid fungi Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) and Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal). In all, the fungi have driven the declines of at least 501 amphibian species, or about one out of every 16 known to science. Source: National Geographic, March 28, 2019. Link. Calling for … [Read more...]
Cats know their names: why it’s harder for them than dogs
In a new study in the journal Scientific Reports, psychologist Atsuko Saito showed that cats know their names even when called by a stranger. She notes domestic cats are still evolving, thanks to closer human interactions as cats spend more time indoors. The inclusion of Japan's cat cafes as study sites was an interesting twist on behavior research. Source: National … [Read more...]
Dogs and their owners tend to act alike, including anxiousness
Whether through conscious training or day to day interactions, humans shape dog behavior—and they change as we change. "Our lifestyle changes trickle down," says William J. Chopik, a social psychologist at Michigan State University. He led a recent study that found that dogs resemble their owners in an entirely different way: their personalities tend to be similar. Source: … [Read more...]
Best animal photos of 2018
Even after more than 100 years of photographing the natural world for National Geographic, wildlife photographers are still capturing animals in ways they’ve never been seen before. Some of the best wildlife photos this year were of birds. Source: National Geographic. Link. Enjoy! … [Read more...]
Irish farm teaches reality to urban dwellers
It’s okay for kids not to know a sheep from a goat, a carrot from a parsnip or that cows really give milk. That’s the philosophy of Airfield Estate, a 38-acre farm just outside central Dublin, Ireland. In fact, teaching kids and others about the realities of agriculture and livestock. Source: National Geographic, September 5, 2016. Our mission is to inspire people to … [Read more...]
Researching what dogs think
Peering into a dog’s brain, researchers like neuroscientist Gregory Berns can see how it reacts to stimuli such as hand signals, sounds and smells. Activity in the reward center can show whether dogs prefer human affection over food, and which ones may not be fit for duty as service dogs. Source: National Geographic, September 2017. Berns launched the Dog Project at Emory … [Read more...]
Easter is bad for bunnies
Widespread misunderstanding of domestic rabbits has made them the third most abandoned pets in the United States. As well, they are the third most popular pet in America, after cats and dogs, according to the Humane Society of the United States. Source: National Geographic, April 12, 2017. With proper care, rabbits live 10 to 12 years. Because many people think they’re … [Read more...]
A picture is worth 1,000 words
National Geographic just released its 52 best images of the year. They’re worth seeing. Source: National Geographic, December 2016. Here’s a gallery of National Geographic’s 52 best images of the year . . . … [Read more...]