Latest news with #BirdConservation
CTV News
2 days ago
- General
- CTV News
‘Flip a switch': Calgarians encouraged to turn out the lights for birds
Bird enthusiasts and conservationists are asking Calgarians to switch off their lights overnight this fall to protect migrating species. Bird enthusiasts and conservationists are asking Calgarians to switch off their lights overnight this fall to protect migrating species. Bird Friendly Calgary has launched its Lights Out for Birds campaign, which runs until Oct. 31. The organization is asking everyone inside the city—and nearby—to flip off their home lights each night from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. That'll help millions of migratory birds flying through Alberta differentiate between pass-through and obstacle, drastically cutting back the number of fatal window strikes. 'It's the easiest thing in the world to do,' Bird Friendly Calgary's Sara Jordan-McLachlin said. 'Flip a switch and it's going to make a huge difference.' More than 16 million birds die from window strikes every year in Canada. 'And this time of year is even more important than spring migration, because now we have the young of the year,' Jordan-McLachlin said. 'All of those babies that were born this year are travelling and migrating for the first time ever, and it's a lot for them to do because they don't know the routes. There's a lot of hazards that they can be drawn to on their first trip.' Jordan-McLachlin says it's already been a tough year for the 300 or so migrating species that fly through the area. Between Aug. 9 and 13 last year, Calgary trackers located 11 birds that died from window strikes. Over the same days this year, there have been 38 fatalities. The increase can at least partially be chalked up to a change in weather patterns, causing an early migration. The group's John McFaul says there are also steps Calgarians can take in the daytime to cut back on that number. 'Now is also a really critical time for people to mark their windows to prevent them from being distracting for the birds migrating,' he told CTV News. 'The markings have to be close together—two inches apart—and you can just use sticker dots on the outside of the window.' Jordan-McLachlin agrees and applauds those local buildings that have already taken steps to make their panes more noticeable. '(Birds) might see those interior lights and think it looks like a nice open forest, and they see the round windows and think that that's the trees they need to avoid. So they might fly directly into that light thinking it's a safe place,' Jordan-McLachlin said. 'We need to do what we can to help them know what is safe.'
Arab News
09-07-2025
- Science
- Arab News
What We Are Reading Today: ‘Birds of the Tropical Andes'
Authors: Owen Deutsch & Michael J. Parr Spanning much of the western part of South America, the Andes are home to some of the world's most magnificent birds, from exquisite hummingbirds to fabulous flamingos. This beautifully illustrated large-format book celebrates the splendor and extraordinary diversity of Andean birds and the habitats they depend on. It draws on the latest findings from the field and sheds light on the lush alpine and forested terrains that make this avifauna so rich and plentiful.
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Quacking News: Rare African Diving Ducklings Born At Chester Zoo
Four Maccoa ducklings, one of Africa's rarest duck species, have hatched at Chester Zoo for the very first time. The ducklings mark the zoo's first ever successful breeding of the endangered African birds and comes as part of the zoo's growing efforts to help safeguard the continent's most threatened species. Experts say only around 5,000 of the ducks remain in the wild, with the birds found in increasingly fragmented pockets across Central and East Africa. Once widespread across the continent, latest surveys found just 14 individuals in Kenya and fewer than 100 in Tanzania - prompting concern over the future survival of the species. The newly hatched ducklings are the first to emerge within the zoo's huge new Heart of Africa zone - a 22.5-acre habitat dedicated to supporting the conservation of African species that are disappearing in the wild. Bird conservationists at the zoo say it hopes the successful hatchlings will contribute towards the long-term protection of the rare ducks. Andrew Owen, Head of Birds at Chester Zoo, said: "As one of just seven zoos in Europe, and 12 zoos globally, that care for Maccoa ducks, these ducklings are very special as they're the first of their kind to ever hatch here at the zoo - making it a really historic moment for our team. "This success gives a real boost to the future of the species and these vital new additions will contribute to the safety-net population in zoos. These birds are facing rapid decline in the wild, so every hatchling really does count. To see them now out on the water inside our new Heart of Africa habitat, which is dedicated to helping Africa's most threatened species thrive, makes this milestone even more special." Maccoa ducks are diving ducks, known for their stiff tails and deep-blue bills and are often found in nutrient-rich wetland habitats. Their rapid decline is linked to habitat degradation, water pollution and climate change.
BBC News
21-06-2025
- Science
- BBC News
Rare ducklings hatch at Chester Zoo
A group of rare ducklings have hatched at Chester Maccoa duck is one of Africa's rarest and most endangered duck the first time the species has ever been successfully bred at the say only around 5,000 of the ducks remain in the wild, with the latest surveys finding just 14 individuals in Kenya and fewer than 100 in Tanzania - prompting concern over the future of the conservationists say they hope the successful hatching will lead to more protection for the birds. Maccoa ducks are diving ducks often found in nutrient-rich wetland habitats, like freshwater wetlands and are known for their stiff tails and deep-blue species is listed as endangered on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) Red List of Threatened degradation, water pollution and climate change have been blamed for the species decline. There are just twelve zoos in the world that look after Maccoa ducks. Andrew Owen, Head of Birds at Chester Zoo, said:"This success gives a real boost to the future of the species... These birds are facing rapid decline in the wild, so every hatchling really does count."
