Macaws are large parrots found in central and South America that can live up to 60 years in the wild or 80 years in captivity. Most species of macaws that exist are endangered or under threat of endangerment. The main threats to the birds are habitat destruction and being captured for the international bird trade. …
Continue reading “Researchers Create Foster Care for Macaw Chicks”
A new paper published in the journal Current Biology has documented an interesting behavior of ants. These small creatures sometimes treat the wounded limbs of other ants from their anthill. The specific ants investigated by the researchers were Florida carpenter ants. Ants have an adaptation known as the metapleural gland that produces antibiotic fluid. The …
If you live in the Midwest US, this blog will not be news to you. But for anyone not in the know, a remarkable event is happening spring and summer in the middle states. Billions, or perhaps even trillions, of cicadas have now crawled from the ground and are screaming in the trees. But this …
Continue reading “Cicadas in the Midwest (For Those Who Are Curious)”
Jellyfish lack hearts, and have two nervous systems instead of a centralized brain (although they still have a rudimentary memory despite the lack of a central brain). Many species have no eyes, and must digest their food very quickly so that they can maintain their flotation. Certain types of jellyfish are bioluminescent, and others are …
The lamprey is a type of jawless fish that has been on Earth for a long time. The oldest lamprey fossils are dated to 360 million years ago. There are 38 known species of lamprey worldwide, and many of these are carnivorous animals that feed by burrowing into the flesh of larger animals. Adult lampreys …
Many Americans are familiar with the activities of the National Park Service, but there are several other major agencies in the US that oversee various aspects of the environment. One such agency is the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). The USFWS can trace its roots back to the late 1800s. In 1871, Congress created …
Continue reading “What Does the US Fish and Wildlife Service Do?”
Baby talk is a cultural universal among humans. Speaking to infants in high pitches, soft tones, and almost unintelligible words are common to societies around the world, according to a study by researchers from Harvard’s Music Lab. There are several theories for why talking to babies in such a manner is a commonality among humans. …
Continue reading “Dolphin Mothers Use Baby Talk with Calves”
A hundred and five years ago, the last captive Carolina parakeet died at the Cincinnati Zoo. This species of parrot was the only one native to the eastern United States. At one time in American history, flocks of 200-300 of these parrots could be seen in forests from Florida to New York. The parrot has …
Continue reading “Carolina Parakeet: Lost Parrot of the Eastern US”
All sorts of incredible creatures live in the ocean, and scientists continue to be surprised by the secrets that the world’s seas hold. One fascinating ocean animal that doesn’t get nearly enough attention is the manta ray. The word “manta” comes from the Spanish word for cloak. Looking at the flat winged body of a …
Just a brief note about a cool story from a warm state (although it wasn’t too warm a few weeks ago when there were iguanas falling from the trees: https://time.com/5091036/frozen-iguanas-florida/ ). If you grew up in the 2000s, as I did, then you may have read the book “Hoot” by Carl Hiaasen for school. Essentially, …
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