History, Natural History & the Arts
Artificial light at night has a profound effect land-based life – from birds to fireflies to humans. But a new study suggests we need to widen our view to include light pollution‘s effect on coastal marine ecosystems, impacting everything from whales to fish, coral to plankton.
This new synthesis of marine light pollution science is published in the journal Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems. [Read more…] about Study: Light Pollution Threatens Coastal Marine Systems
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is going virtual for its Bird Migration Celebration, hosting a series of free webinars during the week of September 13-19, to mark the incredible southward journey of billions of birds. [Read more…] about Free Webinars Celebrate Fall Bird Migration
City life favors species that are adaptable and not too fussy about what they eat, among other characteristics. A worldwide consortium of scientists calls the resulting collection of traits an “Urban Trait Syndrome.” Their study includes data from 379 cities on 6 continents, with the largest data set coming from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s eBird program. The work is published in Nature Communications. [Read more…] about City-Dwelling Wildlife Demonstrate Urban Trait Syndrome
What’s good for the Black-backed Woodpecker is good for restoration of burned California forests. The birds’ unique relationship with fire underpins the latest research into improved post-fire management. A study published in Ecological Applications describes a new tool that factors how fires burn into forest management decisions and turns science into action for wildlife conservation. [Read more…] about Woodpecker Guides Post-Fire Forest Management
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology will host “Ask An Ornithologist” an open Q&A webinar session with renowned ornithologist Dr. Kevin McGowan on Wednesday, April 26th. [Read more…] about Ask An Ornithologist Free Webinar
At this time of year you may see bird courting rituals, lots of singing, nest construction, and the beginnings of fragile new life. Spring also brings another season of the NestWatch citizen-science project from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, building its ever more valuable database on nesting birds. [Read more…] about Help Monitor Bird Families
The 2023 Great Backyard Bird Count organizers estimate that more than 500,000 participants from around the globe participated. [Read more…] about Great Backyard Bird Count Results
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology will host “Get Ready for the Great Backyard Bird Count: Q&A Webinar,” a virtual program set for Wednesday, February 15th. [Read more…] about Great Backyard Bird Count How To: A Free Webinar
The journeys of night-migrating birds are already fraught with danger. Light pollution adds yet another hazard beyond the increased risk of collisions with buildings or communication towers. According to a new study, birds attracted by the glow of artificial light at night are drawn into areas where they are also exposed to higher concentrations of airborne toxic chemicals. The study has just been published in the journal Global Change Biology. [Read more…] about Migrating Birds, Light Pollution & Toxic Chemical Exposure
A new study helps reveal why tropical mountain birds occupy such narrow elevation ranges, a mystery that has puzzled scientists for centuries. While many assumed temperature was responsible for these limited distributions, the latest research suggests competition from other species plays a bigger role in shaping bird ranges. [Read more…] about Study Explores Forces Limiting Ranges of Mountain Birds