The post Study Finds That Traffic Noise Can Slow Down Growth of Baby Birds appeared first on penguinmd.
]]>There have been a number of studies in the past that showed how traffic noise and other forms of noise pollution can cause stress for birds and make it harder for them to communicate. In order to further examine the effects of noise pollution on birds, experts at Deakin University in Geelong, Australia, launched an experiment that included exposing zebra finch eggs to various levels of noise.
The first group of eggs was kept in silence; the second one was exposed to the sounds of the zebra finch song, while the third one was exposed to the sounds of traffic noise. After the period of five days, the eggs that were exposed to traffic noise hatched at a 20% lower rate.
Additionally, chicks that hatched from eggs exposed to noise pollution were noticeably smaller and lighter compared to the first and second groups of chicks.
“Sound has a much stronger and more direct impact on bird development than we knew before,” said Dr Mylene Mariette, bird communication expert and co-author of the study via Guardian. “It would be wise to work more to reduce noise pollution.”
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]]>The post Kiki the Cockatiel Becomes TikTok Star Thanks to Her Musical Talent appeared first on penguinmd.
]]>Many parrots enjoy mimicking human speech, but Kiki decided to take things to the next level and give singing a shot instead. Her vocal abilities wowed many TikTok users, including the Norwegian DJ Alan Walker, and she ended up attracting 3.7 million followers and over 100 million likes on this social media platform.
@kiki.tiel Send help plz wheres the off button on parrot #fyp #foryou #bird #cockatiel #parrotsoftiktok #birdsoftiktok ♬ original sound – Kiki the cockatiel
Kiki lives in Norfolk, England with her owner Grace Robinson, who claims Kiki learned how to sing all on her own. Her attempts to teach her new songs weren’t extremely successful because Kiki enjoys whistling back the tunes she likes, including iPhone ringtone, a wolf whistle, and the funk classic “September” by Earth, Wind & Fire.
“He loves singing to the mirror and if you show him your phone, he’ll do the iPhone ringtone… I’m trying to teach him ‘Another One Bites the Dust’ by Queen but he’s not got it yet. I think maybe he’s running out of storage in his little brain,” her owner told the New York Post.
@kiki.tiel Head boppp #fyp #foryou #bird #cockatiel #parrotsoftiktok #birdsoftiktok ♬ original sound –
@kiki.tiel Can anyone explain this ? #birds #cockatiel #creepy #fyp #foryou #foryoupage #cockatielsoftiktok ♬ original sound –
@kiki.tiel Partying without me #cockatielsoftiktok #birds #fyp #for ♬ original sound –
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]]>The post James Manzo Came Up with a Creative Way to Feed Local Hummingbirds appeared first on penguinmd.
]]>Manzo is a San Francisco park ranger, who was going through many changes in 2019. He suffered a huge blow after his aunt and grandmother both passed away and eventually decided to start anew in Oakland, where he moved from New Jersey with his partner.
He was in a pretty dark place until a tiny hummingbird landed on his balcony, reminding him there was always a reason to smile. He felt happy for the first time in a really long time, despite all the terrible things that happened to him, so he decided to keep this source of joy around.
Hummingbirds became an important part of his life, and he started making elaborate costumes so he could feed them without scaring them off. He now describes himself as a “hummingbird whisperer” and “hum daddy”, and his viral videos helped him become a true sensation, with 700,000 TikTok followers under his belt.
@hum.daddy Spring’s Around the Corner
@hum.daddy CHICK-A-DADEE #humdaddy #chickadee #hummingbirdking #homeforthanksgiving ♬ SAD GIRLZ LUV MONEY – Remix – Amaarae & Kali Uchis
@hum.daddy DELICIOUS #humdaddy #hummingbirdking #HeinzHalloween #skimaskedit ♬ Delicious – T-Spoon
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]]>The post Poe the Raven Becomes Viral Sensation After Surviving Critical Wing Injury appeared first on penguinmd.
]]>Named after Edgar Allan Poe, the author of the beloved poem “The Raven”, Poe was brought to the American Eagle Foundation in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee after suffering a crucial wing injury. He was rescued in North Carolina in 2009, and it quickly became clear it was impossible to release him back into the wild because his injury left him with limited flight capabilities.
This didn’t stop Poe from living his best life, and he’s now one of the most popular animals at the American Eagle Foundation.
“I used to be in the bird show at Dollywood, then retired because I wouldn’t stop stealing food from audience members! So now I’m at the AEF headquarters where I spend my days playing with and shredding toys, doing lots of fun activities […] and educating the public!” reads Poe the Raven’s Instagram page.
Poe the Raven is now followed by over 200,000 people on Instagram, and the AEF is using his platform to spread important information about this bird species.
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]]>The post Rare Yellow-Billed Loon Makes an Unexpected Visit to Las Vegas, Nevada appeared first on penguinmd.
]]>Yellow-billed loons are commonly found in high Arctic tundra regions, so seeing one in Las Vegas was quite unexpected. In an effort to keep one of their “most exclusive guests” comfortable, Bellagio management decided to turn off their famous fountain display.
According to experts interviewed by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the bird was a youngling who was likely looking for shelter from the storm and got lost. It was previously spotted at the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve, which is 12.4 miles from Las Vegas.
After being informed about the yellow-billed loon’s visit, the Nevada Department of Wildlife sent their team of biologists to capture the bird and take it to a remote location where it could have access to more food sources and prepare better for the continuation of its migratory journey. There are currently less than 10,000 yellow-billed loons in the world, with the species being considered “Near Threatened.”
“According to the biologist who oversaw the capture, the bird had no apparent injuries and appeared to be in good health,” the Nevada Department of Wildlife said.
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]]>The post Interesting Facts About Bald Eagles You Probably Didn’t Know appeared first on penguinmd.
]]>Bald Eagle is One of Two Eagle Species That live in North America
The bald eagle, the national bird of the United States, is just one of two eagle species that live in North America, with the other one being a golden eagle. There are 60 different eagle species around the world.
Bald Eagles Steal Food from Other Prey Birds
Bald eagles are at the top of the food chain in the bird world, and don’t hesitate to show that. When they spot another bird, like a hawk or another eagle, carrying food, they will attempt to steal it or harass the bird until they give it up.
Bald Eagles Mate for Life
When they find a partner, bald eagles are committed for life. They mate with the same partner every year, build a nest together, and keep the eggs warm until they hatch.
Bald Eagles Can Live Up to 30 Years in the Wild
Bald eagles mating for life is even more impressive when you consider they can live between 20 years and 30 years in the wild. In captivity, there were instances in which bald eagles lived up to 50 years.
Bald Eagles Are Not Bald
Finally, you might be wondering why they are called bald when they actually have a head full of feathers. This is because their name originated from the Old English word “balde,” which means “white-headed.”
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]]>The post 3 Beautiful Places in Australia Named After Penguins appeared first on penguinmd.
]]>Penguin, Tasmania
Tasmania is home to a tiny town called Penguin, named by botanist Ronald Campbell Gunn after the little penguin rookeries scattered around its coast. This town is now home to many attractions inspired by penguins, from murals and trash bins to the Big Penguin statue in the heart of the city.
Penguin Parade, Phillip Island
Phillip Island in the Australian state of Victoria is another amazing place to see little penguins in the flash. It hosts the event known as the Penguin Parade, allowing tourists and locals alike to observe little penguins coming ashore in groups every day, usually at sunset.
Penguin Island, Western Australia
Located off the coast of Perth, this island is one of the best places in Australia to observe little penguins in their natural habitat. It’s home to one of Australia’s largest colonies of little penguins, but their numbers significantly varied over the years and have been estimated anywhere between 300 and 1,500.
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]]>The post Interesting Facts About Flamingos You Probably Didn’t Know Before appeared first on penguinmd.
]]>Flamingos are Not Born Pink
This might be a big surprise, but flamingos are actually born with grey or white feathers. Their feathers turn pink over time thanks to the food they consume. They eat food like shrimp, plankton, and algae, which all have the pigment carotene, the same one featured in tomatoes and carrots.
Flamingos Have Really Long Legs
You might have noticed that flamingos have long legs. But did you know that their legs can be more than 4 feet long? This is usually longer than their entire body.
Flamingos Make Their Nest Out of Mud
Unlike most other birds, flamingos lay their eggs in nests made out of mud. Both mom and dad take their parenthood duties seriously, building the nest and incubating the egg as a team.
Flamingos are Social Birds
Flamingos like to spend time around their species. The group or a flock of flamingos is called flamboyance and can count anywhere from a few dozen birds to million flamingos.
Flamingos Can Be Found in Most Parts of the World
There are six species of flamingo and you can find at least one of the species in most parts of the world. In the wild, they can be found in Europe, the Caribbean, Central and South America, Africa, and the Middle East. American flamingo naturally inhabits North America, but they don’t breed there.
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]]>The post Amazing Video Shows Goose Family Adopt A Pair of Orphaned Goslings appeared first on penguinmd.
]]>The orphaned goslings were found at the campus of Nassau Community College by a staff member who decided to contact wildlife rehabilitator Karenlynn Stracher for help. It turned out that the goslings were a late hatch and that their mother left before they found their way out of the eggs.
Stracher knew she had to act quickly to find a new family for the goslings to ensure they could survive in the wild. She went to the local lake and soon spotted the perfect candidate: a goose family that had goslings of a similar age as the orphans.
The method that Stracher employed involved tricking the mother goose into thinking that they were actually her babies. She took the orphaned goslings into her hand and showed them to the mother, who immediately rushed to save them.
Stracher put the goslings onto the ground, and it turned out her tactic was flawless. The pair of gooses not only accepted the babies but also created a barrier with their bodies to keep them protected from being “taken away” by Stracher.
Soon, the orphaned goslings got introduced to their new siblings, and the family was shown happily swimming away.
“No matter how many times I do this, the minute I realize that the new parents accept, [I’m] filled with a rush of emotions — excitement, joy, relief, pride,” Stracher later told The Dodo.
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]]>The post Wildlife Sanctuary Shares Adorable Photos of a Rescued “Fluff Ball” appeared first on penguinmd.
]]>Surprisingly, the challenge wasn’t as hard as you would expect. Some assumed that it was an owl baby, others were just perplexed by how beautiful it was, but the real Aussies immediately knew that the small bird was actually a Tawny.
This little fellow had an interesting journey, being found on the ground by a passerby. The kind stranger figured the bird had fallen out of its nest but couldn’t find it. So they contacted Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary, hoping they would know what to do.
The Bonorong staff immediately got to business, checking the tawny’s health and feeding it. The sanctuary plans to release the bird, now named Pod, after it grows up a bit and is ready to take care of itself.
The tawny frogmouth is a bird native to Tasmania and some other parts of Australia. Tawnys often get mistaken for owls even when they grow up because they have similar coloring and are nocturnal. However, there are a number of differences between the two. For example, owls have stronger legs and narrower beaks.
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