Parents really are the best teachers: Young birds that spend longer in the family unit grow up smarter, study shows Siberian jays in Sweden and New Caledonian crows off Australia’s coast studied Those that stayed with their parents for longer developed more skills than others Crows also spent about a year teaching fledglings how to … Read more
The eagle-eyed bird catches the worm in this tricky new puzzle. People across the UK are being challenged to find the earthworm hidden among the feathered flock in this baffling brainteaser. It was created to mark the launch of new website Nest Friends, which helps parents teach children about the variety of birds there are … Read more
Battle of the bird brains! Wild cockatoos perform just as well as those raised by humans in intelligence tests, new study shows Researchers in Vienna tested the intelligence of Goffin’s cockatoos They compared a group of lab-raised birds with a group of wild birds They found both groups performed similarly in intelligence tests The main … Read more
Researchers reveal that birds of prey in Florida have been eating and drinking microplastics, and 86 percent comes from washing machine wastewater containing synthetic microfibers from cheap clothing Florida researchers found significant amounts of microplastics in birds of prey The research marks the first time anyone has confirmed plastics in birds of prey They analyzed … Read more
Arctic birds weaken their own immune systems to save energy for hunting and keeping warm during the coldest months, study shows Study authors examined the immune system of the Svalbard rock ptarmigan They found it can deliberately weaken its immune system to conserve energy It does this during the five coldest months of the year from October … Read more
Impressionable young birds pick up style tips from their elders just like humans and ‘feather their nests’ with coloured materials they associate with older trendsetters. Experts set out to see if birds might prefer to build nests of the same colour as the one they hatched in, or whether juvenile experiences were more important. They … Read more
NATURE GREENERY: JOURNEYS IN SPRINGTIME by Tim Dee (Jonathan Cape £18.99, 355pp) One of the most joyous sights of spring is the return of the swallows, swooping and diving in the air, their forked tails slicing through the sky. Few of us give much thought to the journey that brings them back to Britain each year. … Read more