Alterations in bird songs linked to habitat change

October 10th, 2009 WASHINGTON - In a new survey, scientists have found that leopards can be particularly fussy about where they live, actively avoiding certain areas. The survey was carried out by scientists from the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and the Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute (TAWIRI).

September 8th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Just like great singers among humans, birds too have to deal with cover artists who copy songs. A new research has revealed that some bird species have evolved to sing the same tune as their rivals, in order to compete effectively.

September 4th, 2009 WASHINGTON - A new study has determined that species living in restricted environments such as the tropics may lack adequate variation in their genes and be unable to adapt to climate change. Adaptation is a physiological or behavioural change that makes an organism better suited to its environment, and more likely to survive and reproduce.

August 28th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Through their songs, skylarks can differentiate between friendly neighbours and dangerous strangers, says a new study. The study, conducted by scientists at Queen Mary, University of London, showed that male skylarks learn to recognize local dialects in their neighbours' individual songs, remember where each neighbour is supposed to be and reprimand intruders who don't belong in the neighbourhood.

August 4th, 2009 WASHINGTON - In a new study, scientists have found that elephant seals traveled surprisingly far when ice retreated from part of the Antarctic mainland about 7500 years ago, indicating that the animals may be able to take advantage of emerging habitat resulting from climate change. According to a report in ABC Science, researchers found that despite their rapid relocation, the enormous animals multiplied remarkably quickly, and when the ice returned a few thousand years later, they returned to their original habitat 2500 kilometers away.

July 30th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Scientists from the Wildlife Conservation Society and University of Melbourne have discovered an odd songbird with a bald head living in a rugged region in Laos. Dubbed the "Bare-faced Bulbul" because of the lack of feathers on its face and part of its head, it is the only example of a bald songbird in mainland Asia, according to scientists.

July 28th, 2009 WASHINGTON - In a new study, scientists have shown that when the magnitude 8 Sichuan earthquake struck southern China in May 2008, more than 23 percent of the pandas' habitat was destroyed in the area. The Sichuan region is designated as one of 25 global hotspots for biodiversity conservation.

July 10th, 2009 WASHINGTON - A new study has indicated that seals can quickly respond to gain and loss of habitat under climate change. The study was conducted by an international research team, including post-doctorate Dr Mark de Bruyn and collaborators from the US, South Africa and Italy, led by Professor Rus Hoelzel from the School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Durham University.

June 2nd, 2009 WASHINGTON - A new research has demonstrated that a network of wildlife areas can be a crucial tool to help biodiversity survive future climate change. The research team, led by Durham University, including BirdLife International and the RSPB (BirdLife in the UK) looked at the effects of climate change on 815 bird species of conservation concern in sub-Saharan Africa and on the network of sites designated for them (termed Important Bird Areas).

May 21st, 2009 WASHINGTON - As vegetation reclaimed formerly cleared land in California, Oregon and Washington over the last 35 years, male white-crowned sparrows lowered their pitch and slowed down their singing so that their love songs would carry better through heavier foliage. 'This is the first time that anyone has shown that bird songs can shift with rapid changes in habitat,' observed biologist Elizabeth Derryberry, who made the finding as part of her dissertation research at Duke University.

May 21st, 2009 WASHINGTON - A new study from Duke University has found that changes in habitat have a significant impact on the way birds sing. Lead researcher and biologist Elizabeth Derryberry found that male white-crowned sparrows have lowered their pitch and slowed down their singing so that their love songs would carry better through heavier foliage.

May 17th, 2009 WASHINGTON - An endangered bird found only on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, has been provided an exclusive stretch of sand as a protected nesting area, where it can lay eggs. The bird in question is the maleo, a chicken-sized bird that lays its eggs in sand heated by either the sun or volcanism that occurs in its habitat on the island of Sulawesi.

May 4th, 2009 WASHINGTON - In a new study, researchers in Canada are reporting for the first time that high mercury levels in certain Arctic seals appear to be linked to vanishing sea ice caused by global warming. The study, by scientist Gary Stern and his colleagues, provides a new insight into the impact of climate change on Arctic marine life.

March 29th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Conservation efforts are helping stem dwindling numbers of some bird species, according to report based on 40 years of data analysed by official US agencies. The report shows such efforts have protected 30 million acres of wetlands and contributed to thriving populations of hunted waterfowl, herons, egrets and other birds, according to the US State of the Birds report.

March 19th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Beyonce Knowles would not think twice about creating her own version of a Guitar Hero video game. The R and B queen has revealed she hails the popular music game, in which players use a guitar-shaped peripheral to simulate the playing of lead and bass guitar across numerous rock music songs.