Canada has detected its first presumptive case of H5 bird flu in a person, a teenager in the western province of British Columbia, health officials said on Saturday. The teenager likely caught the virus from a bird or animal and was receiving care at a children’s hospital, the province said in a statement. The province … Read more
Researchers have developed zombie duck drones made from the bodies of dead birds. A team at New Mexico Tech has found a way to use body parts to create realistic avian imposters. They believe the drones would aid wildlife monitoring by blending in a natural environment. Researchers have developed zombie duck drones made from the … Read more
Billie Eilish did indeed seem to have everything she wanted on Wednesday night. In the first of three sold-out shows at New York’s Madison Square Garden on her “Hit Me Hard and Soft” Tour, the 22-year-old pop phenom got all the love she could’ve asked for — and then some. “It’s pretty f—king amazing — … Read more
It was an egg-cellent surprise. For the first time, a zoo in England saw two male Chilean flamingos hatch a chicklet together. Although proud parents Authur and Curtis didn’t biologically produce their new offspring, Paignton Zoo bird curator Pete Smallbones said the little one, still to be named, is having the time of its life … Read more
The early bird gets the worm — or, in this case, the decorative figurine. Loyal Target shoppers and devout fans of the store’s festive felt birds rise in the wee hours of the morning in an attempt to snag one of the $5 fabric figurines online before they sell out — again. Cicero, New York, resident Theresa … Read more
The dodo wasn’t as daffy a duck as we once thought. Despite their dim reputation, evolutionary biologists have learned that the infamously extinct bird, hunted out of existence by humans in the 1600s, was impressively “exceptionally powerful,” according to new insights published last week in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. “Was the dodo … Read more
An owl caused a flap by taking off with the rings during a wedding – and ‘refused to come back for SEVEN hours’. Callum Russel, 29, was at an artist convention at Kirkstall Abbey in England, while a wedding was taking place on July 20. He noticed the bird – which was supposed to act … Read more
Night owls will find this new research a hoot. A study from Imperial College London suggests that those most active at night perform better on cognitive tests. The researchers analyzed UK Biobank data for more than 26,000 people to see how sleep duration, patterns and quality affect mental acuity and cognitive capacity. Participants completed several … Read more
Bird flu has come to roost in the concrete jungle. A highly pathogenic strain of avian flu has been circulating among New York City’s feathered friends for years, a group of scientists say. And it means that pet owners should be on alert. The New York City Virus Hunters have found the avian flu in … Read more
Some of the city’s buzziest gatherings are BYOB – as in bring your own binoculars. Gen Z and millennial New Yorkers are eschewing late nights and hungover mornings for 7 a.m. meetups to spot sparrows, swallows and finches. They’re forming birding clubs with unique identities — such as NYC Queer Birders and Feminist Bird Club … Read more
Birds fly over the rainbow — so why can’t you watch your worries fly away, too? A new study from North Carolina State University, published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology, found that bird-watching can help college students improve their mental health. Studies have shown that spending time in nature can boost overall well-being, but … Read more
The world’s oldest known wild bird may have lost her mate, but she was recently seen courting new suitors. The Laysan albatross, or mōlī, known as Wisdom has been photographed dancing with potential mates at the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge in the North Pacific Ocean, according to SWNS, the British news service. The seabird … Read more
Birds of a feather flock together, especially at one seafaring competition. Dozens of people from across Europe dressed as seagulls and descended upon De Panne, Belgium on Sunday for the continental Championships of Gullscreeching. In the highly untraditional competition, competitors are judged on how well they can dress like a seagull and mimic the bird’s … Read more
Forget the dreary days and heavy reads of January. The weather is warming, the flower are blooming— and captivating, juicy new books are hitting store shelves. Have a look. FICTION “James” is written by Percival Everett. JamesPercival Everett (Doubleday) Everett’s 2020 novel “Telephone” was a Pulitzer finalist. His latest is a reimagining of “Huckleberry Finn” … Read more
Bird is the word. The hottest new star on TikTok is a crooning cockatiel with killer pipes and a taste for the classics. Kiki, known as @kiki.tiel on the popular social media site, where he boasts 3.6 million followers and counting, has achieved widespread fame thanks to his special skillset, shown in a series of … Read more
A job posting for Antarctica-based positions is turning a few heads. The U.K. Antarctic Heritage Trust is looking to hire five people for a five-month stint at the world’s southernmost post office in Antarctica — including someone to sort mail and count the number of penguins in the area. “From counting penguins to sorting mail … Read more
A bird in the handbag is worth two in the bush — just ask this posh pigeon mama. While the Paris Hiltons and Justin Biebers of the world are well known for carting their precious puppies around in pricey luxe label totes, Abby Jardine’s pocketbook is full of feathers instead. “If I want to go out for … Read more
It’s nothing to squawk at. At least five people have died across Europe so far this year in a frightening outbreak of psittacosis — a respiratory bacterial infection better known as “parrot fever.” Four people have died in Denmark while one died in the Netherlands and dozens more have been hospitalized across Austria, Germany and … Read more
They’re the absolute flyest wedding guests. But these finely-feathered attendees don’t ever mean to steal the hitching couple’s thunder — instead, the showstoppers are there to bring the bling. “We had a hawk as a ring bearer at our wedding,” Florida bride Courtney Laney boasted in a buzzy TikTok bulletin, featuring a photo of the raptor perched … Read more
These birds need to wash their mouths out with soap. A wildlife park in the UK conspired a new plan to stop their potty-mouthed parrots from cursing, telling zoo visitors to “f—k off.” Lincolnshire Wildlife Park revealed they are taking eight cuss-happy African Grey parrots — including five who went viral in 2020 — and … Read more