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How Birds Evolve: What Science Reveals about Their Origin, Lives, and Diversity: A Book Review by a Non-Science Person

10,000 Birds

Doug Futuyma believes in science and in the scientific basis of evolution. How Birds Evolve: What Science Reveals about Their Origin, Lives, and Diversity by Douglas J. This isn’t a bad thing, it’s just a very different kind of book than popular books about bird behavior, which rely on story as much as science.

Science 204
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The Secret Perfume of Birds: Uncovering the Science of Avian Scent–A Book Review

10,000 Birds

The Secret Perfume of Birds: Uncovering the Science of Avian Scent focuses on this last question, but you might find yourself fascinated by the first two, which come early in the book but linger on in the imagination as author Danielle J. Do birds use odors and a sense of smell to communicate with each other? But Danielle Whittaker has.

Science 210
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Birding Tengchong, Yunnan (again)

10,000 Birds

’ The Beautiful Sibia is beautiful even in Mandarin Chinese (Li se qi mei, “Beautiful babbler”) … … and of course in science (scientific name pulchella , “little beautiful”). Apparently, the dark color of the plant nectar attracts the bird, as shown by controlled experiments.

Nepal 155
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Vagrancy in Birds: A Book Review

10,000 Birds

But it’s a very fluid definition, as the book makes very clear. Less and Gilroy sort through the exogenous (external) and endogenous (internal) factors thought to cause vagrancy and the scientific experiments that have sought to prove their significance with patience and plain language as well as charts and photographs.

Birds 255
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The return of the Old Man

10,000 Birds

The EU-funded LIFE+ project, called Reason for Hope, is coordinated by the Austrian association Förderverein Waldrappteam, and is claimed to be the first science-based attempt to reintroduce a migratory species to its area of origin. Such an intimate encounter with one of the world’s rarest birds was a memorable experience.

Morocco 215
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What Is An Ornithologist?

10,000 Birds

There really is no clear definition. When I explained that to some of my new coworkers, one responded with, “By your definition, I’m an ornithologist, but you know way more about birds than I do.” Another challenge to bird research is that it is woefully underfunded and relies heavily on citizen science.

Arkansas 185
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Savanna Nightjars prove that growing old is a process of becoming increasingly disillusioned

10,000 Birds

While still in my 30′s I did not feel any differences to being in my 20′s, but the early 40′s make it clear once and for all that I have definitely left my youth behind. My life experience allows for a generally calm and balanced demeanor. Then again, science is definitely wrong in stating that goatsuckers have legs.

Goats 186