Latest news with #songbirds
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
How does wildfire smoke affect birds? This researcher is looking to find out
A researcher at the University of Saskatchewan wants to know how birds, particularly songbirds, are being impacted by wildfires and smoke. Catherine Ivy, a bird lover and assistant professor at the University of Saskatchewan college of arts and science, is leading the project. "I've always been interested in how birds are able to conduct their long migratory flights, and was interested in how animals change their breathing to deal with challenging environments," Ivy said. Canada's 2023 wildfire season was the worst on record in terms of area burned. The 2024 season was the second-worst since 1995. Ivy said there is anecdotal evidence that shows birds are being impacted by wildfire smoke, but there has never been research on the effects. One wildfire wouldn't have any adverse effect on birds, but repeated events and repeated exposure could. Ivy said there has been extensive research done on humans and lab animals. "We know from Health Canada and a whole bunch of other health funding bodies that being outside in the smoke is not good for us [humans]," she said. "But the one thing that research is kind of disregarded at the moment is what happens to wildlife that's outside." Ivy said this is important because it could help us be more aware of why bird populations are declining. She said we already know that changes to migratory routes, such as buildings where they didn't used to be, have had an impact. "But we don't know if wildfire smoke also adds on top of that," she said. "If wildfire smoke affects their lungs and affects their ability to migrate, it means that they might get stuck in environments that don't have enough resources for them during their southbound migration." She said the research will track migratory birds who fly long distances, and compare birds who have been exposed to wildfire smoke to those who haven't. "Health Canada tells us to stay inside, only breathe clean air," she said. "But these animals live outside all year round. So unfortunately we have this gap in our knowledge." The project received funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) discovery grant program.
CBC
17-07-2025
- Health
- CBC
How does wildfire smoke affect birds? This researcher is looking to find out
A researcher at the University of Saskatchewan wants to know how birds, particularly songbirds, are being impacted by wildfires and smoke. Catherine Ivy, a bird lover and assistant professor at the University of Saskatchewan college of arts and science, is leading the project. "I've always been interested in how birds are able to conduct their long migratory flights, and was interested in how animals change their breathing to deal with challenging environments," Ivy said. Canada's 2023 wildfire season was the worst on record in terms of area burned. The 2024 season was the second-worst since 1995. Ivy said there is anecdotal evidence that shows birds are being impacted by wildfire smoke, but there has never been research on the effects. One wildfire wouldn't have any adverse effect on birds, but repeated events and repeated exposure could. Ivy said there has been extensive research done on humans and lab animals. "We know from Health Canada and a whole bunch of other health funding bodies that being outside in the smoke is not good for us [humans]," she said. "But the one thing that research is kind of disregarded at the moment is what happens to wildlife that's outside." Ivy said this is important because it could help us be more aware of why bird populations are declining. She said we already know that changes to migratory routes, such as buildings where they didn't used to be, have had an impact. "But we don't know if wildfire smoke also adds on top of that," she said. "If wildfire smoke affects their lungs and affects their ability to migrate, it means that they might get stuck in environments that don't have enough resources for them during their southbound migration." She said the research will track migratory birds who fly long distances, and compare birds who have been exposed to wildfire smoke to those who haven't. "Health Canada tells us to stay inside, only breathe clean air," she said. "But these animals live outside all year round. So unfortunately we have this gap in our knowledge." The project received funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) discovery grant program.
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Wildlife rescue shelter takes in over 200 animals following Independence Day floods
AUSTIN (KXAN) – As Central Texas grappled with historic flooding over the Independence Day weekend, animal shelters discovered that rain wasn't the only challenge, but also supporting the animals the storm displaced. Austin Wildlife Rescue has taken in over 200 wild animals in the days following the Independence Day floods, bringing the total close to 2,500 animals currently on their premise. This is double what the organization, which spans across 40 Texas counties, typically takes in per day. Jules Maron, Austin Wildlife Rescue's executive director, said it's a common misconception for people to believe that wildlife can handle anything because they are 'wild.' 'When natural disaster or severe weather happens, it's not normal,' Maron said. 'People kind of focus on the 'natural' part of that, versus the disaster part that nobody is equipped to handle.' When intense rain downpours into the homes of wildlife, the flooding causes the animals to escape in any way they can. Animals get hit by cars more often because they're trying to escape their overflown nests, dens and dwellings, Maron said. The most common animals that room and board at Austin Wildlife Rescue are songbirds. Raccoons and opossums follow right after. Maron said that pediatric animals are frequent guests because they can't warm themselves up when they are drenched in water, unlike adult animals that can regulate their body temperatures. Austin Wildlife Rescue housed about 160 animals after the microburst in May. Despite providing housing and food for thousands of wildlife, Maron said they don't turn any away. 'I never like to say that we're at capacity, because we will not turn wildlife away,' Maron said. 'We have dedicated staff that [are] here to take care of them no matter what. We'll be able to make some makeshift caging and habitats on our porch.' As the Central Texas community continues to unite together, Austin Wildlife Rescue grows steadfast in their mission. 'Everything we do is to release this wildlife back into its native Texas environment,' Maron said. The rescue service releases animals at authorized sites that are at least 50 acres and host a permanent source of water. Because there is potential for current release sites to be destroyed from the flooding, Maron said they are always looking for more landowners to register. If wildlife is found, Maron encourages the public to call Austin Wildlife Rescue so they can assess the situation. 'Not every animal needs to come to us,' she said. 'We're happy to talk people through any situation that they're running into with any wildlife they may be encountering.' Maron said Austin Wildlife Rescue can't take all the credit. 'It's really [the public] taking the time and the compassion to bring these animals to us that need help,' she said. 'Nobody wants to see something suffer.' If interested in donating, Austin Wildlife Rescue accepts monetary donations, as well as purchases from their Amazon wishlist. The Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter sprung into action over the weekend when flood-prone animal shelters were ordered to evacuate. They took in every animal from Georgetown Animal Shelter on Saturday, said April Peiffer, Williamson County Animal Shelter's community engagement coordinator. On Monday, they repeated the process for Lampasas Animal Shelter when it also had to be evacuated. Since Sunday, nine pets have been returned to their families, according to Peiffer. 'We basically do everything we can to make a reunion happen,' she said. 'For pets found in the Georgetown, Leander or Liberty Hill jurisdictions, we are extending our hold times to help those families be able to reunite.' Austin Pets Alive! has also joined the effort. This morning, around 130 dogs and cats were boarded onto a rescue flight to partnering shelters in Fort Worth and Utah. The purpose is to make room in overwhelmed Central Texas shelters as the number grows for lost and displaced pets. The goal remains the same: reunite. 'We know it might take days, weeks for reunifications to happen, but that's our top priority,' said Clare Callison, the senior director of operations at Austin Pets Alive! 'It's devastating if they go missing, even for a few hours. So I couldn't imagine losing your home, losing family members, loved ones, but also losing your pets, your family members as well.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
BBC News
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Chelsea Flower Show medal for Rutland designer's bird garden
A Rutland-based garden designer has won a medal at her first RHS Chelsea Flower Oakey received a silver gilt for highlighting the plight of the UK song bird in her show SongBird Survival Garden aimed to show the narrative of a bird's daily life with a birdhouse den made from reclaimed materials showing motifs of threatened UK and Stacey actress Alison Steadman was one of the visitors to the garden and said she had picked up some tips to attract birds into her own garden. Ms Oakey said she wanted to include three elements, "shelter, water and food that are instrumental to birds' lives" in her garden. "My design is inspired by the movement and perspective of a bird, foraging for food and water while moving between points of safety and shelter."Two pathways weave between layers of planting, mimicking how birds prefer to move through a network of cover," she Oakey said the garden featured a birdhouse den made from reclaimed materials, with bird-friendly planting which provides natural sources of food and nesting material. 'Family tradition' Ms Oakey said her parents were florists and avid orchid growers, who had won seven gold medals at the Chelsea Flower Show previously. She said: "It's just lovely to be able to follow in their footsteps. "It's exciting to follow the family tradition and come to Chelsea." Once the Chelsea Flower show has finished, Ms Oakey says the whole garden will be relocated. "We're taking it on a lorry up to Hull to its permanent home with the Neighbourhood Network Charity, who manage a bustling community centre, based in Bransholme."It currently doesn't have an outside space, so it'll create a lovely place for people to sit and an oasis for birds in the city," she said.
Telegraph
21-05-2025
- General
- Telegraph
Cat-repellent garden sparks Chelsea Flower Show row
A cat-repellent garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show has sparked a row with animal welfare charities. Designers of the SongBird Survival Garden deliberately chose trees with spiky thorns to stop cats from climbing them and disturbing birds. Although intended to raise awareness of the drastic decline of songbirds in the UK, the design has proved contentious with animal rights campaigners, who argue it is unfair to cats. They claimed the thorny trees might harm the pets, suggesting they were being scapegoated for the decline in the bird population. The charity behind the garden dismissed suggestions that it was dangerous to cats. The dispute comes the same week that Monty Don, the veteran broadcaster and horticulturalist, made headlines by unveiling a dog-friendly garden at Chelsea. The SongBird Survival Garden, created by designer Nicola Oakey and sponsored by the Project Giving Back charity, is intended to be a safe haven for songbirds, whose numbers in the UK have fallen by 50 per cent over the last five decades. Sue Morgan, chief executive of SongBird Survival, said the garden deliberately uses hawthorn trees to ward off cats and other predators. 'These trees are a great example of shelter,' she told The Telegraph. 'You can see they have got really long thorns within them. It's a really safe place for a bird to sit because bigger birds, cats or other things couldn't get into the tree. 'So they will sit there and then they'll be able to say 'right and I want to go and get some food' and will use it as a launching point. Birds are very cautious, and they make sure they feel safe before they move around.' She added: 'You can grow your garden and plant it in a way that works for the birds and for the cats so they all have their own spaces. It's about finding that solution. 'Having thorny plants can be a natural deterrent. The cats have plenty of other places to go.' On whether the tree is a danger to cats, she said: 'No, no, no, they just wouldn't go up it. They're intelligent creatures. They would see that and think 'I'll go elsewhere'.' The garden has proved popular with the judges – winning a prestigious silver-gilt award – and songbirds, as droppings on plants show they are using it at night. But Elvira Meucci-Lyons, the chief executive of Mayhew, a London-based charity said: 'As an animal welfare charity, we appreciate the need for spaces for all wildlife to flourish. 'However, we urge people to consider the impact of spaces that might harm cats, either through physical injury from spikes, or through mental injury, such as from sound deterrents. Cat-proof roller fencing can be a kinder alternative.' Daniel Warren-Cummings, the central behaviour officer for the Cats Protection charity, said it was easy to scapegoat cats for the decline in the bird population. He said: 'At Cats Protection and as cat owners, many of us are lovers of birds also. And while it is apparent that there are bigger contributors to bird decline in the UK, such as intensive farming and habitat-loss, we encourage responsible cat ownership to reduce predation of birds. 'Planting of trees that cats will not be motivated to climb is a passive tactic and not directly aiming to harm cats, so there would be no objection. Other measures such as keeping cats in overnight to avoid peak wildlife times such as dawn and dusk and playing with your cat for five to 10 minutes each day will also help to reduce your cat's hunting behaviour outside. 'It is often easier to scapegoat cats rather than to holistically look at and change the entirety of the issues facing bird populations in the UK.' Samantha Prior, from Woodgreen Pets Charity, added: 'Some people prefer cats not to be in their gardens and the ideas used in the SongBird Survival Garden are all safe and won't cause any harm to our feline friends. 'However, it's important to remember that cats love to be outdoors and exploring – it's in their DNA. It would be good to see gardens being promoted not for keeping cats out, but for showing people how they can create a cat-friendly garden that appeals to both people and cats. 'If people want to encourage cats to stay in their own garden for adventures, there are loads of great ways to do this. For example, including lots of cat-friendly plants, such as cat mint and cat nip, shrubbery and plant pots will keep cats entertained and give them somewhere to relax or hide, while also still looking visually appealing.'
