International Wildlife News
Smart technology reveals new gull behaviour
Attaching sensors to animals in order to study their movements and record aspects of their behaviour has become commonplace over recent years. However, because they need to be lightweight, these automated bio-loggers typically have limited battery capacity.That’s a challenge, particularly when you want to use power-hungry data collection methods like….
Nature Alert: make your voice heard in the EU review of conservation legislation
The European Commission is currently reviewing EU legislation as part of a Regulatory Fitness and Performance Programme (REFIT) — and vital EU conservation laws like the Birds Directive and The Habitats Directive are coming under scrutiny as part of that process. NGOs across the EU are concerned that this review could potentially lead….
Wakatobi Flowerpecker — new bird discovered by Irish scientists
A team of scientists from Trinity College Dublin has discovered a new bird species on the Tukangbesi Islands off the coast of Sulawesi in Indonesian. Dubbed the Wakatobi Flowerpecker (Wakatobi is an acronym derived from the names of the four main islands in the Tukangbesi chain, Wangi-wangi, Kaledupa, Tomia and Binongko) the Irish scientist demonstrated that the bird….
Tiny bat makes incredible migration across the North Sea
New evidence from the UK has proved that tiny bats can and do cross the sea from Britain to mainland Europe. A thumb-sized Nathusius pipistrelle originally ringed in the UK has been recovered dead almost 600km away by bat researchers in the Netherlands. Because these tiny bats, which weigh just 6-15….
Irish DNA analysis confirms first Welsh pine marten record in 40 years
DNA analysis carried out at Waterford Institute of Technology has confirmed unequivocally that a dead pine marten found by the roadside near Newtown in Mid Wales is a native British animal… the first to be recovered in Wales since 1971. “The significance of this find cannot be overstated,” said Natalie….
Wildlife Photographer of the Year results announced
The results of the prestigious Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition were announced during the week. First prize went to Canadian photographer Paul Nicklen who braved the frigid waters of Antarctica and hunting leopard seals to capture this sensational shot of Emperor Penguins returning to the ice to feed their….
Winners of British Wildlife Photography Awards announced
“Gannet Jacuzzi” — Overall winner of the British Wildlife Photography Awards 2012 As we wait with bated breath for the results of the “Irish Wildlife Photography Award 2012”, run by the Irish Wildlilfe Trust, results of the British Wildlife Photography Awards 2012 were announced yesterday, complete with a stunning portfolio….
Irish produced wildlife television nominated for two Emmy awards
Dublin wildlife cameraman Colin Stafford Johnson’s tale of the journey of a wandering tiger across the Indian sub-continent has been nominated for two Emmy awards in the prestigious National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in the USA. The Crossing the Line documentary “Broken Tail”, follows Stafford Johnson’s quest as he….
“Flap-running” offers insight into evolution of flight
Researchers in the USA believe that the ungainly practice of “flap-running” employed by many birds as they climb a steep incline could represent a key step in the evolution of flight. Biologists at The University of Montana’s “Flight Lab” conducted a series of experiments with domestic pigeons. The study, published….