10,000 Birds

AUGUST 23, 2013

Birds are less compelling to human interest than our fellow primates, in many regards, but surely they are more arresting than a big wad of tentacled whale chow. Now why should this be? Unexplained! and Canada” often with cameras at ready.

Apes 159

Apes Birds Woodpeckers Primates 159

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 18, 2014

A recent paper in Science, Brood Parasitism and the Evolution of Cooperative Breeding in Birds by Feeney, Medina, Somveille, et al, looks into this interesting possible relationship. This was the idea originally proposed to explain unbelievably huge sexual swellings in primates, to let males know who the females are. Somveille, M.,

Breeders 194

Breeders Breeding Birds Groups 194

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 25, 2011

And if you look into it enough, it presents a classic case where science can fail us. I believe in science. Science is based on logic and evidence, which I think is a very respectable way to look at the world. But what many people fail to realize, and too often scientists themselves, is that science is elastic.

Emotional 197

Emotional Science Birds Mammals 197

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 6, 2018

Utilizing a mixed bag of human and primate sex studies, literature, myth, and the Old Testament, Prum muses on the evolution of the penis, the female orgasm, male-female sexual conflict and same-sex relationships. Much of this, as Prum himself admits, is speculative and it is far less compelling than the ornithological chapters.

Ducks 100

Ducks Research Animal Stud 100