Latest news with #Laysan
Vancouver Sun
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Vancouver Sun
5 facts about queer animal behaviour from CBC's Animal Pride
Victoria wildlife conservationist Connel Bradwell wanted to know more about queer behaviour in the animal kingdom. The result of that curiosity is the new documentary Animal Pride: Nature 's Coming Out Story. Directed by Rio Mitchell, the documentary is now available on CBC Gem just as Pride season kicks into gear. 'As a gay wildlife conservationist, I've always been deeply connected to nature, but I never really encountered any information about queerness in the natural world. I've studied wildlife for years, yet it wasn't until I saw same-sex behaviour in orcas that I realized how little I knew,' Bradwell told Postmedia via email. 'That moment was a wake-up call, I'd been so focused on the more familiar aspects of nature that I missed a whole world of diversity right in front of me.' Get top headlines and gossip from the world of celebrity and entertainment. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sun Spots will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Bradwell discovered that for more than a century, researchers had been documenting same-sex relationships in animals but, due to societal or culture pressure, their findings were often 'hidden, removed, or dismissed.' 'What really struck me, though, was how this secrecy has impacted both the science itself and conservation efforts,' said Bradwell. 'Understanding the full range of animal behaviour, including queerness, is essential to protecting these species and the environments they rely on. 'Luckily, today there are amazing scientists who are doing this work, often against the odds, and bringing these stories forward. They're trail-blazing a path for more inclusive, honest science that better reflects the natural world.' 1. Female albatrosses raise chicks together: On islands like O'ahu, female Laysan albatross pairs form long-term bonds, some lasting decades. They mate with males to produce fertilized eggs, then return to their female partners to co-parent and raise the chicks together. Similar long-term, same-sex pairings have also been observed here in British Columbia, including among Canada geese and gulls, who nest and raise young together. 2. Queer behaviour is found in over 1,500 species: Scientists have documented same-sex sexual behaviour in more than 1,500 animal species, from insects and birds to dolphins and primates. It is not an anomaly; it is a natural, widespread part of the animal world. 3. Banana slugs and others challenge the gender binary: Banana slugs, found in B.C.'s forests, are hermaphrodites, possessing both male and female sex organs. They often exchange sperm mutually, and sometimes self-fertilize. Slugs aren't alone; many fish change sex mid-life, and fungi have thousands of genders, showing that nature often thrives in fluidity, not rigid roles. 4. Homosocial behaviour strengthens bonds: Many animal species engage in same-sex social bonding, known as homosocial behaviour. These cooperative partnerships often involve sexual behaviour and play a key role in trust and group cohesion. We filmed bighorn sheep displaying this behaviour in Radium Hot Springs showing how queerness shapes complex animal societies. 5. There's still more to learn: Same-sex behaviour has been hidden and ignored for a long time, but it is finally being studied and understood. Many species, including penguins and orcas, require specific social structures to survive, structures that include same-sex behaviour. Understanding this diversity is crucial for better conservation. Thankfully, more scientists are now embracing and exploring this work.
Calgary Herald
29-05-2025
- Science
- Calgary Herald
5 facts about queer animal behaviour from CBC's Animal Pride
Article content Victoria wildlife conservationist Connel Bradwell wanted to know more about queer behaviour in the animal kingdom. The result of that curiosity is the new documentary Animal Pride: Nature 's Coming Out Story. Article content Directed by Rio Mitchell, the documentary is now available on CBC Gem just as Pride season kicks into gear. Article content 'As a gay wildlife conservationist, I've always been deeply connected to nature, but I never really encountered any information about queerness in the natural world. I've studied wildlife for years, yet it wasn't until I saw same-sex behaviour in orcas that I realized how little I knew,' Bradwell told Postmedia via email. Article content Article content Article content Article content Bradwell discovered that for more than a century, researchers had been documenting same-sex relationships in animals but, due to societal or culture pressure, their findings were often 'hidden, removed, or dismissed.' Article content 'What really struck me, though, was how this secrecy has impacted both the science itself and conservation efforts,' said Bradwell. 'Understanding the full range of animal behaviour, including queerness, is essential to protecting these species and the environments they rely on. Article content 'Luckily, today there are amazing scientists who are doing this work, often against the odds, and bringing these stories forward. They're trail-blazing a path for more inclusive, honest science that better reflects the natural world.' Article content Article content Article content Article content 1. Female albatrosses raise chicks together: On islands like O'ahu, female Laysan albatross pairs form long-term bonds, some lasting decades. They mate with males to produce fertilized eggs, then return to their female partners to co-parent and raise the chicks together. Similar long-term, same-sex pairings have also been observed here in British Columbia, including among Canada geese and gulls, who nest and raise young together. Article content 2. Queer behaviour is found in over 1,500 species: Scientists have documented same-sex sexual behaviour in more than 1,500 animal species, from insects and birds to dolphins and primates. It is not an anomaly; it is a natural, widespread part of the animal world. Article content 3. Banana slugs and others challenge the gender binary: Banana slugs, found in B.C.'s forests, are hermaphrodites, possessing both male and female sex organs. They often exchange sperm mutually, and sometimes self-fertilize. Slugs aren't alone; many fish change sex mid-life, and fungi have thousands of genders, showing that nature often thrives in fluidity, not rigid roles.
The Mainichi
07-05-2025
- Health
- The Mainichi
Bird flu suspected in mass deaths of sea animals in eastern Hokkaido
NEMURO, Hokkaido -- The highly pathogenic avian influenza, known for its high mortality rate, is suspected as the cause of mass deaths and abnormal behavior of sea animals in eastern Hokkaido. Since mid-March, the eastern coast of Hokkaido has seen a rise in seabirds and marine mammals believed to have been infected with bird flu. In the city of Nemuro, an independent survey by volunteers had confirmed the carcasses of 614 seabirds as of May 4, along with seals and sea otters. Although infection was confirmed in a dead sea otter found in the neighboring town of Hamanaka, many surrounding municipalities lack sufficient investigative frameworks, suggesting the reported cases are just the tip of the iceberg. Masahiro Toyama, a curator at Nemuro's Museum of History and Nature, and rangers from the Wild Bird Society of Japan noticed abnormalities among seabirds and are continuing a survey voluntarily. The team collected the carcass of a crested auklet from Habomai Fishing Port in Nemuro on March 14 and sent a sample to the Institute for Raptor Biomedicine Japan in the city of Kushiro, where a PCR test confirmed infection with the bird flu A virus. That same day, additional carcasses of a red-necked grebe and a pelagic cormorant were also found at Nemuro's Hanasaki Port. Numerous sightings of abnormal behavior, likely caused by infection, have also been reported. On March 16, a local man birding at Katsuragi Beach in Nemuro witnessed a black-tailed gull and a slaty-backed gull suddenly collapse. Furthermore, a ranger at the Shunkunitai Wild Bird Sanctuary's nature center in Nemuro on March 18 saw a slaty-backed gull stumbling and unable to stand, and two days later a crested auklet was seen spinning and shaking its head at Hanasaki Port. These eerie scenes are reminiscent of depictions in Rachel Carson's "Silent Spring," a book exposing the hazards of pesticide use. Some carcass samples underwent simple tests at the Nemuro Subprefectural Bureau before being sent to the Institute for Raptor Biomedicine Japan and the National Institute for Environmental Studies in Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefecture. Nearly 90% of specimens apparently tested positive for avian flu. Meanwhile, reports from a fisheries worker who is also a wildlife protection officer for the Ministry of the Environment indicate that since mid-March, at least five carcasses of what are believed to be crested auklets have been spotted about 10 kilometers offshore in the Pacific Ocean. Additional carcasses of seabirds such as the Laysan albatross, spectacled guillemot, velvet scoter and rhinoceros auklet have since been confirmed floating offshore. Damage has also extended to marine mammals, marking the first confirmed cases of seal and sea otter infections in Japan. A total of six dead or weakened seals were found between April 18 and 25, with tests confirming infections in two of the four harbor seals examined. The weakened animals reportedly exhibited symptoms such as bloodshot eyes, labored breathing and trembling. In Hamanaka, a sea otter carcass collected on April 22 tested positive for avian flu. On May 4 and 5, two more sea otter carcasses suspected to be infected were recovered along the coast of Katsuragi in Nemuro. Concerns about mass deaths at breeding sites The investigation team, by walking the coast to confirm and collect carcasses and aggregating information from fishery workers, has identified a total of 23 species of seabirds potentially infected, including five species listed on the Environment Ministry's Red List (the common murre, ancient murrelet, Laysan albatross, pelagic cormorant and spectacled guillemot). The most numerous are the crested auklets, which accounted for 155 of the about 200 birds collected on April 18. Toyama expressed uncertainty about the background of the mass deaths and the infection routes. There has also been a report that as a fishery worker threw a common scoter found dead on a boat into the sea, an eagle ate it. Toyama pointed out, "There are concerns about infection chains stemming from scavenging." With seabirds entering their breeding season, he expressed a sense of crisis, saying, "The spread of infection in breeding colonies may result in mass deaths of seabirds." (Japanese original by Hiroaki Homma, Nemuro Bureau)
BBC News
26-02-2025
- Science
- BBC News
Oldest known wild bird has a new chick at 74
The oldest known wild bird in the world has recently welcomed a brand new chick!Wisdom, who is believed to be 74, has been tending to her latest addition which hatched on 30 January 2025. Her last chick before this was born in 2021. The Laysan albatross was filmed looking after the egg with her partner at the Midway Atoll national wildlife refuge, located in the Pacific Ocean, at the end of last year. The new arrival is a big deal as the species usually only live for between 12 and 40 years. Wisdom, who was first tagged in Hawaii in 1956 when she was estimated to be just five, is a rare case. The wild bird is thought to have produced 50 to 60 eggs over her lifetime, with around 30 of them hatching and being looked after by their mother and father before reaching the point where they are ready to fly. "Like other Laysan albatross, Wisdom returns to the same nesting site each year on the atoll in the outer northwestern edge of the Hawaiian Archipelago to reunite with her mate, and if able, lay one egg," USFWS Pacific shared on social media following the hatching of the new baby albatross."Albatross parents take turns caring for their chick, so when Wisdom returned her partner left to hunt for squid, fish and crustaceans." What do we know about Laysan albatrosses? Laysan albatrosses are large seabirds which can usually be found on islands across the Pacific Ocean. They have white heads with some darker shading on their faces, orange beaks, narrow pointed wings and darker coloured tails. Their diet is largely made up of fish, fish eggs squid and crustaceans like crabs and they are also affected by plastic pollution and can accidentally eat plastic items that ends up in the sea. The Laysan albatross can fly for very impressive distances, often gliding over the sea for long periods without flapping their wings.
USA Today
15-02-2025
- Science
- USA Today
World's oldest known wild bird, Wisdom, cares for her newly hatched chick at 74
World's oldest known wild bird, Wisdom, cares for her newly hatched chick at 74 Show Caption Hide Caption World's oldest albatross cares for her newborn chick The world's oldest known albatross, Wisdom, was filmed tending to her newborn chick. At the age of 74, most of us are focused on being grandparents rather than new parents. This is not the case for 74-year-old mom Wisdom, the oldest known wild bird in the world to lay an egg. The egg recently hatched to Wisdom, a Laysan albatross, who resides at the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge in Honolulu, Hawaii. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFW) Columbia Pacific Northwest branch shared the news that Wisdom was expecting back in December when she laid her first egg in four years with a new partner. With age comes experience - she has laid between 50 and 60 eggs and fledged as many as 30 chicks in her lifetime, biologists at the wildfire refuge estimate. This one was special, however, in that it made her the oldest known wild bird in the world to do so. Now, wildlife enthusiasts get to watch Wisdom show off her child-rearing wisdom as she cares for the chick that successfully hatched on Jan. 30. Not only that, the chick's father is in the picture too, as albatross across species takes turns caring for their chick while the other hunts and feeds to restore energy, according to the Pacific Islands USFW. During the first week of February, Wisdom got her break from the demands of parenthood while out on her feeding trip while her mate stayed home. She returned around Feb. 7 and was caught on camera nuzzling the fuzzy, grey-and-white baby as it rested safely at her feet. Wisdom, the world's oldest known bird, laid her first eggs in the 1950s Wisdom was first found and fitted with a tracking band in 1956 after she laid an egg, according to the USFWS. Laysan albatrosses are not known to breed before they are five years old. USFWS believes she has reared up to 30 chicks in her lifetime. Wisdom had previously mated consistently with an albatross, Akeakamai, who had not been seen for several years. The species' average lifespan is around 68 years, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
