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Every sperm is sacred

10,000 Birds

Because unlike those of mammals, avian ova need penetration by multiple sperm in order to successfully develop into baby birds. That’s the finding of researchers from the University of Sheffield in the UK, published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B. (If But it points to new areas ripe for investigation.

Zebras 145
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The Secret Perfume of Birds: Uncovering the Science of Avian Scent–A Book Review

10,000 Birds

Whittaker’s adventures in olfactory research take unexpected turns into genetics, chemistry, and the halls of academia. ” (p. ” * Nevertheless, the myth continued. It’s taken a critical mass of women scientists to be heard and to be respected.

Science 227
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Birding Yancheng, Jiangsu

10,000 Birds

If you are a really really important person in the area of Long-eared Owl diet research, instead of looking at hundreds of individual papers, I recommend reading the paper “Synthesis of 312 Studies on the Diet of the Long-Eared Owl Asio otus “

Birds 208
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Birding Sepilok, Borneo (Part 2)

10,000 Birds

Even to the author of the paper, who cautiously adds that “nest architecture is unlikely to be irrelevant to females, and its role deserves further investigation” (if swear words were allowed on 10,000 Birds, I would say that he is trying to cover his ass).

Birds 219
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Great Tit Telomeres, Baby Talk, Brainy Birds

10,000 Birds

Third, which we already suspected, bird brains are adjusted to provide extra smartness in a way not seen in mammals. Research done quite a while back suggests that this is adaptive. Researchers have been studying song learning in birds for some time. City Great Tit ( Parus major ) telomeres shortened.

Mammals 111
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Lest we Forget – BP Oil Spill 2010

10,000 Birds

July 24, 2010 BP brazenly says an internal investigation has cleared the company of all gross negligence in the spill. Officials reported 48 marine mammals, mostly dolphins, and 87 dead sea turtles during the first two months alone. The NOOA recorded approximately 70 marine mammal strandings each year prior to 2010.

2010 239
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First Outbreak of Usutu Virus in Germany

10,000 Birds

A few dead birds were collected by authorities and sent to a laboratory for investigation. Its host range includes mosquitoes of the genus Culex , birds, and mammals, with the mosquitoes acting as the virus’ principal vector. The Usutu Virus’ origins are in Africa south of the Sahara.

Germany 160