Latest news with #RachelAnderson
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Aussie council backflips on 'blunderous' decision that shocked city shoppers
An Australian city council has backflipped on a 'blunderous' plan that resulted in hundreds of birds crashing into windows along its most popular shopping strip, leaving shoppers shocked. Stores operated by Optus and Apple became inundated with tiny migratory tree martins after the City of Adelaide netted nearby trees to stop them roosting above cafes and restaurants, forcing the birds to relocate. Yesterday's council meeting was dominated by the issue of the birds, with passionate councillors discussing their plan to address the problem for over 45 minutes. It followed an announcement by the mayor that four of the nine nets on busy Leigh Street would be removed on Wednesday. But five would remain in place to deter the birds from settling above businesses that have complained about their poo covering the street. While wildlife rescuers have welcomed the council's announcement, frontline responders who have been collecting injured birds want it to go a step further. 'There's no point removing just some of the nets, we want them all gone,' rescuer Rachel Anderson told Yahoo News. Every year, around 10,000 tree martins migrate to Adelaide from the Northern Territory, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. And for a decade, they'd been settling in trees planted by council along Leigh Street. After the trees were netted, the birds were left with little choice but to settle along busy Rundle Mall. When the birds began crashing into Apple's windows and flying into the Optus store, council adjusted lighting along the busy shopping strip. This dramatically reduced the number of birds becoming disorientated and crashing into windows. The netting of the trees pleased cafe owners but outraged environmentalists, with the Australian Conservation Council saying people's amenity had been put above the welfare of the birds. "This is an ill-thought-out and blunderous decision by the City of Adelaide," it said. Footage captures 'nightmare' problem outside Aussie Apple store Aussie shoppers shocked as 'hundreds' of birds die in front of Apple store Australia blasted for 'sniper shooting' hundreds of koalas Now the city is working on finding a balance between human and wildlife needs, with councillor calling the bird's presence "amazingly exciting" at last night's meeting. "I didn't even know what a tree martin was before I joined this council," she said. Another even suggested the tree martins could become a popular attraction. "In America... they had a problem with bats and turned that into a significant tourist destination," he said, referencing Austin, Texas. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Footage captures 'nightmare' problem outside Aussie Apple store
Shocking footage filmed at one of Australia's busiest shopping strips shows the moment dozens of birds plummeted into the Apple store's giant front windows. Rescuers estimate 50 native tree martins crashed into the Adelaide shop's window on Wednesday, resulting in deaths and injuries. The company has tried to stop the birds hitting its windows before, but following last night's incident, it told Yahoo News it has a new plan. In the short video, shoppers can be heard marvelling at the giant flock of birds flying out of a tree opposite the store as they're spooked by what's believed to be a falcon. But the mood quickly turns to horror, and a rescuer can be heard yelling "Oh s**t, oh f**king hell" as the birds hit the window. A second woman calls the situation a "nightmare". The problem has been ongoing for at least two weeks, with Rundle Mall's Optus store also becoming a hotspot for the birds. Hundreds of tree martins are estimated to have died, and after Yahoo News reported on the problem, Apple agreed to dim its store lights to try and reduce collisions. Sadly, experts say the move has not been successful. 'Last night was absolutely horrendous. It was the worst rescue I've been to,' rescuer Rachel Anderson said on Thursday. Now Apple plans to install a film on the exterior of the glass to provide an additional deterrent to the birds, although it was unable to tell Yahoo exactly when this will occur. Birds often don't realise the glass exists because it's clear, but a film with a UV coating helps them register its existence. The problem was sparked by the City of Adelaide's decision to net trees that large flocks of tree martins had been roosting in. For over a decade, around 10,000 migratory tree martins have flocked to Leigh Street, one of Adelaide's most popular cafe strips. While their presence has delighted bird lovers, the city council has been less than impressed, claiming droppings from the 'problem' birds are a 'serious risk to public hygiene', and so it netted their trees to drive them away. But the decision created an entirely new 'problem' for the birds after they arrived from the tropical north this season. Unable to roost in their preferred habitat, they've been forced to an even busier location, Rundle Mall. The birds spend their days high in the sky, catching insects, then fly down to roost in large groups as fast as they can to avoid predators like peregrine falcons. Alarm as koalas shot from helicopters in national park Freak weather event in Australian national park leads to estimated 700 dead koalas Community 'embarrassed' by 'absolute mess' left at beachfront park ahead of Easter The birds are expected to leave the city early next month, but in the meantime large numbers remain displaced. Rescuer Rachel Anderson thinks the solution is simple. 'Council needs to take the nets down,' she said. In a statement, the City of Adelaide told Yahoo it's working to prevent the problem from continuing to occur. It believes changes it has made to lighting across the shopping strip have helped reduce window strikes. 'Council has brought together a team of experts to assist in determining the best course of action we can take to further protect the birds during this migration season and into the future,' it said. 'The welfare and safety of the tree martins remains our highest priority and we again thank those wildlife rescue volunteers who are helping us deal with this complex and challenging situation'. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
CBC
15-04-2025
- Lifestyle
- CBC
Eggs are so expensive that some Americans are decorating potatoes this Easter
Hippity, hoppity, Easter's on its way, but people in the U.S. may have to think outside the basket this year. Eggs tend to be a staple for Easter celebrations, whether they're being decorated with bright paints, rolled across the lawn of the White House, deviled and displayed on a platter, or baked into quiches and served with brunch. But with U.S. egg prices still stubbornly high amid an outbreak of bird flu in laying hens that led to a severe egg shortage, many Americans are looking for alternatives to some of their favourite traditions. Last month, U.S. egg prices increased again to reach a new record-high average of $6.23 US per dozen, or $8.73 Cdn. Luckily, influencers have stepped up to the challenge when it comes to decorating eggs, dyeing everything from marshmallows to potatoes. One popular TikTok video by lifestyle and home design site The Spruce offers five alternatives to decorating real eggs, including painting pasta shells, painting potatoes, and painting clay. In other videos that bemoan the current price of eggs, influencers decorate egg-shaped brownies, they dye marshmallows, and they paint rocks. "Small potatoes or baby potatoes have sort of an egg shape and and they're a lot of fun to look at! So let's colour potatoes for Easter!" writes Rose Atwater on her website Rose Bakes. "Eggs are way too expensive right now," explain the food bloggers behind Crowded Kitchen in a video for peanut butter eggs with more than one million likes on Instagram. "I actually enjoyed dyeing marshmallows more than eggs," wrote influencer Rachel Anderson in a viral Instagram video where she dips jumbo marshmallows in food colouring before displaying them on a platter. Record high prices With Easter just days away, the U.S.'s most recent egg price increase comes at a tough time. The March record of $6.23 US per dozen is up from about $5.90 US per dozen in February, and about $4.95 in January. By comparison, Canada's average retail price for a dozen eggs in February was $4.91 (or around $3.50 US), according to the most recent figures from Statistics Canada — roughly 40 per cent cheaper than if you bought them south of the border. The U.S. increase was reported last Thursday in the consumer price index. Overall, the index for food increased 0.4 per cent in March, which includes a 5.9 per cent increase in the index for eggs, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Over the last 12 months, the index for eggs increased by 60.4 per cent. And while there is evidence that wholesale prices are falling, those haven't necessarily reached store shelves yet. "Even though shell egg demand is improving into the final marketing week ahead of Easter weekend, it continues to lag behind current expectations and past Easter trends," the U.S. Department of Agriculture wrote in its most recent weekly egg markets overview. "Retail grocers are largely opting out of running their usual annual holiday shell egg promotions this year as supplies have only recently recovered sufficiently to maintain a consistent offering; (it's) a situation few are willing to jeopardize through feature incentives." Potatoes prove popular Still, it seems you can't stop some traditions, even if it means getting creative. Craft retailer Michaels told The Associated Press their craft egg kits are flying off the shelves, with sales of two of the kits up 20 per cent compared to the same time last year. Walmart, the U.S.'s largest retailer, declined to comment on sales of dyeable plastic eggs and other alternatives, but said it wasn't the first year it carried them. Among some options for shoppers: a carton of 12 plastic eggs that include four liquid dye packets and four egg-dyeing bags and Play-Doh Easter eggs. Paas, a supplier of egg dyeing kits, shared an Instagram video earlier this month demonstrating how to dye marshmallows that give "major spring vibes ... no eggs required." And of course, some people are finding their own solutions online, where potatoes seem particularly popular. "Are potatoes the answer?" writes Orlando news site WESH 2. "Skip those expensive eggs and dye potatoes for Easter instead!" writes The Craft Patch on Facebook. And in a TikTok video set to It's the Hard Knock Life from the musical Annie, a mom heaves a bag of potatoes in her grocery cart, then shows her children colouring them with markers. "With egg prices, we might be dyeing Easter potatoes again," she wrote. WATCH | Can B.C. eggs escape Trump's tariffs? Can B.C. eggs escape Trump's tariffs? 12 days ago Duration 2:03 You could say that eggs are having their moment in the sun. With Trump's tariffs increasing the cost of most staples in shoppers' grocery carts, B.C. eggs are one of the few proteins that won't take a serious hit. Shelley Joyce reports from Kamloops.
Associated Press
18-03-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
VirtualPBX Business Phone Receives 2025 Internet Telephony Product of the Year Award
Business Phone Recognized for Industry Innovation 'In the opinion of our judges and editorial team, Business Phone has proven to be among the best communications and technology solutions available on the market.' — Rich Tehrani, CEO, TMC SAN JOSE, CA, UNITED STATES, March 18, 2025 / / -- VirtualPBX, a leading provider of business communication solutions, is proud to announce that its Business Phone product has once again been awarded the prestigious Product of the Year award by TMC, a global, integrated media company. This recognition highlights VirtualPBX's commitment to delivering cutting-edge communication solutions that empower businesses with reliable, flexible, and feature-rich VoIP services. 'I am honored to recognize VirtualPBX with a 2025 Product of the Year Award for its commitment to excellence and innovation,' said Rich Tehrani, CEO, TMC. 'In the opinion of our judges and editorial team, Business Phone has proven to be among the best communications and technology solutions available on the market. I look forward to continued leadership from VirtualPBX.' The Internet Telephony Product of the Year award is presented annually to companies that demonstrate exceptional advancements in technology, service, and overall customer experience. VirtualPBX's Business Phone product stood out for its scalability, security, and ability to meet the evolving needs of modern businesses. The VirtualPBX Business Phone solution provides small and medium-sized businesses with enterprise-grade call management and a user-friendly interface designed to enhance productivity and efficiency. Key features of VirtualPBX Business Phone include: - Enterprise-grade call routing for streamlined operations - High-definition voice quality for clear communication - Customizable voicemail and call forwarding options - Robust reporting options including insights and real-time dashboards - Reliable customer support for enhanced user experience This award underscores VirtualPBX's ongoing dedication to innovation in the telecommunications industry. 'We are honored to receive the Product of the Year award for our Business Phone solution,' said Rachel Anderson, CMO of VirtualPBX. 'At VirtualPBX, we strive to provide businesses with powerful and intuitive communication tools that support their growth and success. This recognition is a testament to our team's hard work and our commitment to excellent customer service.' For more information about VirtualPBX and its award-winning Business Phone solution, visit The winners of the 2025 INTERNET TELEPHONY Product of the Year will be featured in INTERNET TELEPHONY magazine online and on TMCnet. About TMC Through our news and solutions-focused editorial platforms, live events, webinars, and online advertising, TMC provides global buyers with valuable insights for making informed technology purchase decisions and successfully navigating markets. To discover more about how TMC can assist you in achieving your marketing goals through our events and online advertising, please visit About VirtualPBX Founded in July 1997, VirtualPBX delivers premium Business Phone, Messaging, POTS replacement, and Contact Center solutions for our customers, who work in the office, remotely, and everywhere in between. We offer more than just products and services; we make your business better with quality customer care and 24/7 support. X LinkedIn Instagram YouTube Legal Disclaimer:
