Bird Baths, Pond and Dove Love

In September 2005, I observed a beautiful white dove walk over our neighbor's roof. Mesmerized I watched her fly closer to our house and land on a backyard tree. Our yard not only have a pond but several bird baths that attract numerous birds. The dove initially, a bit apprehensive but once she felt safe, she landed and drank water from our pond. I witnessed a breathtaking moment of beauty and nature. This routine went on for days but come dusk, she would disappear and we couldn't determine where she rested throughout the night.

Remembering a recent ceremony for our county fallen Vets, I surmised this dove lost its way. I marveled knowing this experience was "once in a life" moment. To our astonishment, the dove repeated her routine daily. Over the roof - into the tree - down to our pond or to our bird baths. As days passed, slowly I ventured closer and saw there no bands on her legs. We lovingly calling her Tammy, after our neighbor who lost her life to cancer. It was her house the dove chose to rest on. Symbolically the beautiful dove would represent all the amazing woman we loved and lost.

As each day passed, I believed Tammy would continue visiting our yard each day but I needed to educate myself on her breed, an appropriate diet and how to house and protect in Colorado's winter. I contacted the White Dove Ceremony organization and spoke with Sandra. Once she examined the photographs, she verified it was a rock dove. She explained the dove could have "flown the coupe" but more than likely lost her internal signal and wandered from a private ceremony. Although she suggested capturing her and keeping her inside, Tammy was not going to have any of that.

Now at this point,Tammy started making herself more at home on our property. She stayed on our porch drinking from our bird baths and pond and at night rested on our utility wire under our house eve. We bought Flax seeds which she loved. We tried to lure her in with the flax seed to a box we built with a perch but she was very wise. She would just stick her head in only to grab the seed and return to the utility wire. So with as all the water she could have from our pond and her belly full it was apparent, she found a home with us. We became a neighborhood celebrity but the dove was the beautiful main attraction.

As the days went by and the weather changed, we made a unique bird house for her but she just adapted. On the cold nights, she puffed herself up and slept under our eve. Every morning, we awoke to her delightful cooing sounds. Was she singing good morning to us?

We have over 20 different types of unique bird feeders in our yard which attract numerous varieties of birds. We also have an abundant variety of bird houses. When friends visit, they always try to count them but inevitably lose count. Every spring we watch the birds mate, build their nests and raise their families. Since water is so important for birds our bird baths in our yard gave us this wonderful experience. Although I felt that Tammy would not find a mate, she was a blessing to enjoy for the time that we had her. It was just shy one month of a year that this beautiful dove we lovingly called Tammy disappeared and she never returned.

We felt she came to our home for a reason, did she feel safe in our yard or did "our love for birds" welcome her in a beautiful serene environment with our bird baths, pond, our plentiful seed and shelter? Fondly, we review her pictures and I saved one of her feathers. My love for birds is why I wanted to offer an oasis in your yard's and introduce my bird baths. You are welcome to walk into the beautiful habitat that we can develop in your home yards.

Sika Deer: A Japanese Deer

Sika deer also known as spotted deer or Japanese deer is a species of deer native to most parts of East Asia but has now been introduced in many parts of the world. It is scientifically known as Cervus Nippon. Earlier it was found in abundance in Vietnam in the south to the Russian Far East to the north. At present it is extinct from all these areas except Japan where it is present in overabundance. The common name has been derived from a Japanese word.

It is one of the members of the genus Cervus and is the true deer. Formerly it was lumped in the genus with nine species. There has been a big problem of genetic pollution especially in many parts of Japan. Due to this phenomenon the data regarding the exact number of subspecies is unclear. Sika deer is one of the species of deer that does not lose its spots upon attaining maturity. Spots vary with region. The mainland subspecies bear large and more easily demarcated spots as compared to the Taiwanese and Japanese subspecies which have smaller and somewhat invisible spots. Many species introduced from Japan also lack significant spots. The colour of the fur varies from mahogany to black although white species are also known. In the winter months the colour of the fur becomes darker and the spots diminish and a mane also develops near the neck region in males. The deer are medium sized herbivores attaining a height of 50-90 cm and weighing about 30-70 kg. The males are larger than females. They have a compact body with dainty leg and often show flared rump at the time of danger like the American elk.

Sika deer have stout and upright antlers and extra buttress up from the brow tine with a thick wall. Their antlers develop some palmation. Females bear a pair of bumps on their forehead. The antlers are generally 28-45 cm in length but they may be 80 cm tall in some subspecies. Stags have a distinctive mane during the rut. They are generally diurnal but in areas of human interference they tend to be nocturnal. Seasonal migrations have been observed in some areas of Japan. Lifestyle also varies widely some live solitary while others prefer to live in separate sex groups. They produce high pitched vocals at the time of danger. The males are territorial and keep harems of females during the rut which peaks from September to October but may also lasts during the winter months. Territorial size is largely dependent upon the habitat. The territories are marked by several pits in which the males urinate and it carries a strong musky odour. The fights among the males for the female may be fatal.

Sika deer are found in the temperate and subtropical forests of East Asia and they mainly prefer dense grasslands. The dried immature antlers also known as velvet antlers are a part of traditional Chinese system of medicine.

The Varying Sizes of the Tuna

All About the Tuna

Of all the fish species that are meant to be used as food, perhaps the most popular is the tuna. The tuna is a kind of fish characterized by its many, razor like fins, as well as its whitish or silvery underside.

Tuna belong to a sub species of the mackerel, the skip jacks, and the bonitos. Some of the most common species of tuna include the yellow fin tuna, the Atlantic tuna, the black fin tuna, the blue fin tuna, and the big eye tuna.

The Tuna As Food

When used as food, we all know that we can utilize this fish as either fresh or canned. The good thing about tuna recipes is that they kind of bank on the fact that the this fish is actually a rich source of Omega 3, which is a fatty acid that is basically good for the heart. To add to that, tuna is also a healthy source of vitamin D as well as of protein. It has also been shown in studies that this fish can help cure breast cancer, arthritis, and even Alzheimer's disease.

Tuna can be used as a healthy filling for sandwiches, or as an ingredient in pasta sauces. It can be broiled, grilled, fried, or even steamed, and it can also be used in soupy dishes. Tuna is also a popular ingredient for salads and other "green" dishes.

However, there are some people who tend to develop allergies from eating tuna. There are even some who develop kidney stones or gout. It also concerns some people to find out that tuna actually sometimes has mercury content.

On Tuna Sizes

For the yellow fin tuna as well as the big eye tuna, they usually have the capacity to grow to up to 6 feet or about 190 centimeters in their lifetime. For tuna species that are most often found along the Atlantic ocean, such as the black fin tuna and the skip jack, the maximum size measurement is up to 90 centimeters or three feet only.

Now, if we were to ask just what species of tuna is the biggest in terms of size, that would be the blue fin tuna. Truth be told, the bluefin tuna is actually even known as the largest living bony fish in the world, because it can grow to lengths longer than ten feet and more than one half ton. Typically, the blue fin tuna can be found in measurements ranging from 15 inches up to about 6 1/2 feet. The biggest ones are known to reach a measurement of more than 77 inches and weights of above 300 pounds. These blue fin tuna species are found in the Atlantic Ocean. So far, the biggest blue fin tuna ever caught was one that weighted almost 1,500 pounds. That catch was made way back 197.

The Hawksbill Sea Turtle

The hawksbill sea turtle which has been declared as critically endangered species by IUCN, is the only living species of its genus. It belongs to the family Cheloniidae and its binomial name is Eretmochelys imbricata.

Like other sea turtles the Hawksbill turtle has a flattened body and flipper like limbs which enables them to swim faster. It is one of the smallest sea turtles in the world. It has a narrow head with two pairs of scales in the prefrontal area. Its elliptical shaped carapace has a brownish background with irregular light colored patterns on it and molted brown shades on the sides. It can swim comparatively faster than other sea turtles. Its flippers which are like pedals has made it possible for them to swim faster than others.

The hawksbill turtle can weigh up to 60 to 90 kilograms (150-180 lbs.) and can be of 76 to 90 centimeters (2-3 feet) long in length. One of the unique characteristics of the hawksbill turtles which make it easy to distinguish is the thick scutes patterns which make up the carapace. This remarkable pattern has been seen by many biologist and researchers. It has made them easily differentiable from other sea turtles. Usually normal people can not always differentiate between sea turtles. But with this scutes patterns any people can recognize this turtle.

Among all other turtles, hawksbill is associated with tropical waters mostly. They can be found in the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Ocean's tropical reefs. It has been acknowledged by the biologist that two of their major sub population exists in the Atlantic and Indo-Pacific. Actually they can be found in most of the swallow water areas.

The usual lifespan of the hawksbill turtles has been predicted as to be approximately 30 to 50 years but scientists are not sure about it. They need to do extensive research on it in order to know their exact lifespan. They hope that within very short time they would be able to know the lifespan of this turtle and they are working hard for this. But most of them get caught by fishers before that timespan. Some of the turtles are get caught by the predators too. Their predators hunt them crucially and eat them. Human fishing practice has pushed them towards this measurable condition which is not expected. So we should be aware of the fact that our greed should not make them extinct.

California Condor

By Chantelle Simoes Chantelle Simoes
Level: Basic PLUS

Chantelle Simoes is the founder and owner of YourBirdingOasis.com. Her love for wild birds started in her late twenties while vacationing amongst the Redwoods of ...

For such an ugly bird, the California Condor (Gymnogyps californianus) is a species that enjoys a great deal of admiration and attention from birders in North America and around the world. The condor is the subject of an incredible success story after the population was brought back from the brink of extinction by dedicated and diligent biologists.

The California Condor is quite distinctive. The condor has the largest wingspan of any North American bird, at XX feet or XX meters. The condor's body plumage is black, and its bald head is fleshy, folded, and pinkish-red. The bird's spiky, fringed collar is also distinctive. The condor can be distinguished from other black vultures within its range because of its sheer size - the Turkey Vulture and Black Vulture are about half the size of the condor. California Condors also have unique white wedge-shaped patches beneath each wing. Even more recognizable are the tracking tags that many adult condors carry on each wing. This rare bird can be found only in the Grand Canyon area, in Zion National Park, and the coastal and inland mountainous areas of central California.

California Condors are primarily soarers, owing to the fact that they lack the strength to continuously flap their enormous wings. The condors therefore are restricted to areas with consistent thermal activity and high cliffs or large trees on which to nest. Condors, and other soaring birds such as eagles and hawks, use thermals, or columns of warm air rising from the earth, to gain altitude and travel long distances in search of food. California Condors eat carrion, and use their sensitive nose to locate fresh kills. The birds usually dominate the feeding hierarchy at a kill, but strangely, given their large size, the condors are known to be cautious when confronted by golden eagles.

The California Condor's low birth rate and late age of sexual maturity coupled with devastating affects of DDT, a pesticide that weakened the shells of the condor's eggs, which was used widely before it was banned in 1970. The condor population plummeted to the point where, acting with the approval of the United States government, biologists captured all 22 remaining wild birds in 1987. A well-organized conservation plan was established that has become the most expensive species protection project in U.S. history.

A careful breeding program was established that involved feeding captive-hatched chicks using puppets designed to look identical to adult condors. Scientists also used Andean condors, another imperiled species, as a type of dress rehearsal for the release of adolescent California condors. After the successful introduction of captive-raised Andean condor females to California, scientists were confident that the California condors would also thrive. The Andean condors were captured and re-released in South America, and California condors began to be released in California and Arizona. In 2003, the first condor nestling fledged in the wild since 1981. In 2006, a pair of released condors attempted to nest in northern California. Since then, two chicks have hatched successfully in the wild. Scientists continue to monitor this endangered species so that one day its population may recover completely.

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Article Submitted On: March 07, 2011

Rogue Elephant

Don't ever underestimate an elephant. The beautiful African elephant may appear peaceful in their slow movements, but they are extremely territorial which invokes aggressive protection of their young and the herd. They are extremely fast on foot despite their size, reaching up to speeds of eighty kilometers an hour. You would not want not want to be in the pathway of one of those gentle giants when on the rampage.

It was an Easter holiday weekend and many campers were settled in the popular camping resort at Kariba Dam, Zimbabwe. The thrill of camping 'in the wild' was the attraction. Fishing from the many small recesses of the waters edge until sunset and coming back to camp with a good catch of Tiger fish was something to be proud of.

But in the simmering heat deeper into the bush was a rogue elephant, wounded by careless hunters who took a shot at an unsuspecting elephant, supposedly missed, and mistakenly moved on looking for another 'kill'. The wounded elephant began to separate from the rest of the herd to seek solace and relief from the constant pain at his side. A natural aggression growing in his drive to survive. The heat was stifling and with water too far off there was little comfort for the rogue.

Suddenly a crunch in the grass behind the elephant. An inquisitive camper had passed by on the road back to the fenced camping resort and spotted the lonely elephant. Inexperienced in the reasons for the rogue's separation from the herd, the holiday maker decided to steal a closer look and even considered taking a close up photograph to show off with when he returned to the campsite.

Startled, the bull spun on his heel and came face to face with an animal of the human species. Associating the painful incident only days before with the smell of this 'creature' that was a mere two metres distance from him, the instinctive reaction was to attack and kill the offending individual. Within seconds the elephants ears began to flap. He moved with a slow sway toward the man, rocked back and forth, lowered his head and pulled his ears back tightly, and blundered towards the man with every intention to do serious bodily harm to the point of death. Yes. That would satisfy this rogue immensely.

It only took a second for the wide-eyed spectator to figure what was coming. With grasshopper legs, he sprung sideways in an attempt to run, stumbled, gather his balance again and headed straight back to the road where his vehicle was stationery, with driver side door open and ready for access. As the man felt soft earth giving way under the strain of his sprint, he felt the aura of the elephant, it was that close. With the vehicle in sight, the elephant slowed a little in contemplation of the fight with the metal monster and gave up the chase.

Wildlife - 5 Ways You Can Help Preserve Endangered Wildlife Animals

The list of Endangered Wildlife and Animals is getting large each year. One conservative estimate has placed almost forty percent of all the species in the verge of having the ecological extinction. Not only the traditional wetlands are being taken away to find new place to create plantations but also the cities are growing at phenomenal rate too. The effected plant and animal life in the midst of all this is quite large, you can find the animals like polar bears, pandas and even Indian tigers in this list that were proud heritage once. Here are some ideas being threshed out to save most if not all of our endangered wildlife and animals for future.

? Spreading the Awareness
? Wildlife protection and feeding initiative
? Joining the hands with worthy organizations
? Stop purchasing any endangered plants or animal related products
? Arrange fundraising and charity events

The first thing that you can do to preserve these animals and plants in need is to create awareness about them. The list of endangered spices is visible on the internet so one can read about it, talk to friend or even tell the kids about the fate of these animals that might not survive if a collective effort is not made.

The wildlife protection and activates can be started even in your area too. Read about the different animals and plants in your area that might be facing such fate. Arranging the feeding programs can be great way to be part of this. During this project you can start making the bird feeders, bird baths, clean the protected area of human waste especially the plastic that is practically indestructible.

The social action and collective efforts can be made for protection of these species you can start the campaign for signature and even change or start of a new piece of legislation too. Being part of the organizations like WWF and Greenpeace can be great idea too. Similarly you should not purchase any materials or product that might use these endangered animals or plants.

Four Birdwatching Tips - Observing Bird Characteristics

Are you thinking about becoming a birdwatcher? Here is some information I have used in birding on how to identify the bird by the way its head looks. There are other parts of the bird we will examine in other articles.

1. Use the head

You can sometimes figure out what bird you are looking at by studying his head. To begin with, check to see if its head is a solid color. Note the particular color and any other colors on his head. Does he have a crest, which means does he have a pointed head? The Cardinal, Blue Jay and Tufted Titmouse are birds with crests I am familiar with. I just always thought of the saying, "bless your pointed little head."

Some birds appear to be wearing a cap or a hood. A dark spot on top of a bird's head is called a cap. A hood is a distinctively colored set of feathers that cover part of the head and neck. Some woodpeckers I have seen, like the Golden-fronted, have caps and some, like the Red-headed Woodpeckers, wear hoods.

Does he have stripes on his head? A bird isn't necessarily going to have all kinds of stripes on him. He might just have an eye stripe.

2. The eyes have it

Some birds appear to have masks, eyebrows and eyelines extending from the outside corner. The Loggerhead Shrike has a very prominent mask. I'm not kidding. Many Thrushes have eyebrows. Robins, by the way, are Thrushes. Other birds have patches of solid color on the "cheek" or ears (ear coverts). He might have eye-rings, as if he put on white eyeliner all around his eyes, like the Ovenbird. Other birds have dark eye-rings.

I have even noticed that some birds have freaky colored eyes-yellow or orange. The first time I saw a Brewer's Blackbird male his yellow eyes freaked me out. Since most birds have dark eyes, one with different colored eyes gives you a big clue.

Finally, check to see if there is a patch on his throat. The Orchard Oriole has a good example of a patch.

3. The bill is on the male (and female)

Next on the head, you need to look at the bird's bill or beak. It seems that birders prefer the term "bill" unless they are talking about raptors like hawks. Then they use the term "beak."

Is the bill long, short or in between? Is it thin, medium or stout? Is it curved up or down? Is the bill flattened, hooked or unusual in some way?

A bird with a long bill is the Belted Kingfisher. The Eastern Phoebe has a short bill. Blue Grosbeaks have very stout bills.

Also check the color. Some bills are dark, others are light, some have color and some have more than one color. Northern Cardinals have red bills.

This information is major in helping you identify your bird. A bird with a bill curved down (decurved) could be a Curlew. One with a bill curved upward (recurved) could be an Avocet.

Some birds' bills are so special the bill is a part of the name. Some examples are Roseate Spoonbills, Red Crossbills and Blue Grosbeaks.

4. Write or draw first

Let's hope your bird is still around after you have given his head a thorough examination. No, you may not shoot him the way Audubon studied his birds. But surprisingly enough, many birds will sit still long enough for you to get much of the information we have covered. Remember to write it down or maybe you can draw it. Don't try to look it up in your field guide until after the bird is gone.

Studying Birds and Animals With a Nest Box Camera

The latest miniature camera technology allows us to place a camera inside a Bird Box or Animal Nest Box and study wildlife unobtrusively. We can now watch and listen, from the first time a parent bird visits, looking for a suitable site to build its nest, to laying it's eggs and rearing it's young. Then watch in awe as the chicks fledge and leave the nest for the first time.

With the popularity of programs such as Springwatch and Autumnwatch on television, in the UK, which have brought us closer to the natural lifecycle of birds and animals than ever before, nature watching has become a national pastime.

Nest box cameras are available in black and white or colour and with infrared technology for viewing 24 hours a day. They can also be supplied with wires or wireless for remote viewing and can be connected to a TV or a computer. Typically Colour models produce better pictures and are not a lot more expensive than black and white. There are pros and cons for using wireless or wired models: although wireless technology is improving all the time, the signal is generally better with a wired camera. Wired cameras can be simple to set up and are simply "plug and play" but the wires have to run somewhere and may limit the places you can place the nest box. Also there is the possibility of having to drill a hole through the wall of the house to run the wire to the television.

Most companies supplying cameras for nest boxes will fit them into any suitable nesting box, whether it's a small 25mm entrance hole version for a Blue Tit, an open fronted design for Robins and Wrens or even a Hedgehog House.

A nest box can be put up at any time of year but if you put it in place by February you stand a good chance of it being occupied by Spring (In the UK). If they are in place by winter, then some birds will use them to roost and as a shelter and will then use them for nesting in Spring.

A Bird nest box should be sited in a quiet area of the garden and at least 1.5m off the ground to deter predators. They can be placed on a tree, pole, fence or building, but the area should be sheltered from the worst of the weather and prevailing winds and in a place that is not sunny all day long.

Copyright nestboxesandfeeders.co.uk 2011

Brief Information About Deep Sea Animals

There are lots of interesting things living in the sea. Here is some information about Minuscule Sea Animals, Sea invertebrates, Sea Reptiles, Sea Mammals, Sea birds and other sea creatures.

Minuscule Sea Animals

Zooplanktons are the very small animals in the ocean biome - which mainly include of small crustaceans and fish larvae. Some examples of zooplanktons are protozoa, chaetognaths, mollusks, arthropods, annelids etc. There are 500 types of zooplankton animals recorded in the Sargasso Sea in the North Atlantic Ocean alone, whereas the total number of Zooplanktons in the entire world is expected to be more than a million.

Sea Invertebrates

Jellyfish, Octopus, Crab, these are sea animals which are usually distinguished by the absence of a vertebral column. These types of invertebrates are generally found in the surrounding area of coral reefs and these also referred to as coral reef animals. Examples of invertebrates in the marine biome include jelly fish, deep sea worms, shellfish, squid, octopus, star fish, crabs etc. As in the case of different land biomes, invertebrates make up an important portion of living organisms in water biomes.

Fish Species

There are more than 31,500 variety of fishes are there in various oceans of the world. These fish species range from microscopic fat infant fish to large whale sharks. Examples of well know fish species of the world include sardines, halibut, sharks etc.

Sea Reptiles

Sea Reptiles includes different types of sea snakes, sea turtles, and also some types which common between sea and ground such as the sea iguana and saltwater crocodiles. Most of the seas reptiles are found in the oceans are oviparous that is animals which put down eggs, with sea snakes being the only exception. Due to their tendency to come on land regularly, these reptile species are most frequently seen in low waters close to land. Although sea snakes rarely come on land, they do prefer shallow waters of estuaries particularly wherein they can get protection from their predators.

Sea Mammals

Dolphins and blue whales these are the two names that's comes to your mind when we talk about sea mammals. Apart from these animals, Sea mammals include seals, sea otters and other types of whales include gray whale and humpback whale. In marine mammals list, Polar bears strictly don't be eligible because due to the key role they take part in in marine ecosystem in polar areas.

Seabirds

Seabirds are also called as marine birds. Seabirds differ very much in lifestyle, behavior and physiology. Some of the well known seabirds include penguins, albatross, seagulls, etc. These seabirds are also popular for their traveling habits.

That was short information about sea animals which have an important share when it comes to the biodiversity of earth.

Another Rare Bird Is the "Kea"

The Kea bird sometime referred to as "the clown of the mountains" because of its ability to amuse people. I say amuse but some of the local people often refer to it as an irritation specially if they are chewing on the aerial of your car or stealing items from your backpack and flying away with them. Regardless the Kea is one of the few remaining birds' indigenous to New Zealand.

The Kea is in fact a parrot, a very large parrot. They are approximately 20 inches long and weigh in at about 2 lbs. They are mostly olive green in color with beautiful orange feathers on the underside of their wings. These orange feathers can be seen when the Kea is in flight. The feathers on the lower back are orange/red while some of the outer wing feathers are blue.

The Kea have strong grey beaks with the longer upper beak being slightly curved. They use this beak to feed on the several kinds of plants available in the mountainous region of the South Island. They also eat other birds, sheep and rabbits. They have also developed a taste for people food. They seem to enjoy pasta, apples, grapes, bread, nuts and even some dairy products.

The Kea bird breeds in the underbrush of the trees known as southern beeches. These clusters of shrubs and trees grow high on the mountain sides more than 1500 m above sea level. The nests are usually on the ground in between tree roots and rock crevices. The Kea gets to the nest by going through a tunnel to the larger nesting area. They cover their nests with moss, ferns and rotting wood.

The female Kea which is a bit smaller than the male will lay anywhere from 2 to 5 eggs. The eggs take about 21 days to hatch and the chick stay under mothers care for about three months. The young adolescent Kea resembles the adults but can be distinguished by the yellow ring around their eyes as well as the yellow across the top of the beak. They also have some yellow on their legs.

As visitors to New Zealand you will quickly decide if the Kea are an amusement or an irritation especially if they climb on your car and bite off loose pieces of rubber etc. or let out one of their outrageously loud squawks as they peer through your hotel window. Despite their antics the Kea is thought to be one of the most intelligent birds in the world.

I hope you have enjoyed reading about the Kea. I look forward to sharing more unique and interesting facts about New Zealand their birds and other wildlife.

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Birds and Windmills

Renewable energy such as solar and wind power has been heralded by many environmentalists as a step towards a more sustainable economy. However, other environmentalists argue that wind farms can also pose threats to migrating birds and other wildlife. The effects of windmills on birds is a widely-studied and hotly-debated topic that will surely grow in extent as renewable energy projects continue to be implemented across the globe.

Environmental groups in the United States are lobbying for the nation to meet 20% of its energy demands using wind power by the year 2030. Recent advances in technology and tax credits for wind farm builders has made wind power more efficient and financially feasible. But opponents to wind energy say that turbines break down easily and can cause property values to decrease, impair scenic views, and above all, kill or injure wildlife who come into contact with the spinning blades.

Conservationists have pointed out that renewable-energy companies are held to different standards than non-renewable energy corporations such as oil companies, even though both types of companies are responsible for their adverse impacts to bird life. An Oregon-based power company recently paid more than $1 million in fines for killing over 200 golden eagles in Wyoming over a two-year period. But wind farms that kill birds seem to avoid being prosecuted or paying fines as a result. For example, a wind farm in Altamont Pass, California was found to kill more than 10,000 birds per year in a July 2008 study. Nearly all of these birds are protected under the Migratory Bird Act, which applies to both renewable and non-renewable energy companies. This wind farm killed nearly as many golden eagles as the power lines in Wyoming, but so far no charges have been brought against the company.

However, wind-power advocates cite a number of statistics that support the environmental-friendliess of wind power projects. Compared to other threats to bird life, such as domestic cats and tall buildings, wind turbines are relatively harmless. For example, housecats kill more than 1 billion birds each year, compared to several hundred thousand killed by wind turbines each year. In addition, more birds are killed when they strike buildings or are electrocuted on power lines each year than are killed by wind turbines. Several recent studies have researched methods to prevent bird fatalities caused by wind farms.

Scientists have suggested that careful placement of a wind farm may help reduce its impacts on birds. For example, wind companies should avoid important bird breeding areas or habitats that act as stopover points during bird migration. In addition, many patents have been submitted for devices that prevent birds from flying near or into wind turbines. One such device emits an electronic frequency that birds perceive as annoying, which effectively and safely routes birds around turbines or power lines. A similar device has been introduced to prevent boats from striking whales.

As the global population's demand for energy increases, the greater the chance that wind farms will be built. Hopefully, new technology, legislation, and incentives will be put in place to reduce the negative impacts that these normally-environmental-friendly structures have on birds.

Critically Endangered Black Rhinos

The Black Rhino is one of Africa's most endangered animals and is listed as critically endangered by the IUCN meaning it is in real danger of becoming extinct in the foreseeable future. Also known as the hooked lipped rhino due to its hook like upper lip, this magnificent animal is found in eastern and southern areas of Africa.

The Black rhino is usually a solitary animal, only coming together to mate, although mothers with young may occasionally come together in small groups. These animals have very poor eyesight and this has led to them gaining a reputation for being highly aggressive. This is reputation is somewhat unfair as the rhino doesn't usually attack in the same way as say a lion would. They attack more out of fear and panic, which is a state they often find themselves in due to their poor eyesight. Researchers have seen them charge at trees and even termite mounds, which highlights how easy it is to startle a black rhino into charging.

At the start of the 20th Century the black rhino was the most numerous of all the rhinos and estimates suggest they numbered several hundred thousand. However, ruthless hunting for prized rhino horn saw these numbers shrink rapidly down to an estimated 10,000 in the early 1980's. More recent reports from 2005 showed further decline, with numbers estimated to be as low as 2,500.

Rhino horn is made up of keratin, which is the same substance that makes up human hair and nails. However in China and other parts of Eastern Asia people believe it to have medicinal properties and so seek out rhino horn to use in traditional medicines. Scientists have found no evidence of these medicinal properties, but herbalists continue to use it claiming it can cure fevers and even revive people from comas.

In the Middle East Rhino horn is carved into ornate patterns for ceremonial jambiyas. During the 1970's there was a huge increase in demand for these daggers, which are traditionally worn as an accessory by all men above the age of 14. This increased demand contributed to the 96% reduction in Black rhino numbers during the 1970's, 1980's and 1990's.

Four Tips for Choosing a Bird House

By Mary Fesio Mary Fesio
Level: Platinum

Having developed a keen interest in wild birds in her younger days while at summer camps, Mary Fesio has turned it into a sideline giving ...

It may be surprising to many but many bird houses on the market are not really suitable to birds. On the contrary, not only they do not attract birds but they can even be dangerous for the feathered creatures. There are some basic guidelines that should be followed when considering buying a wild bird house.

The most important things that need to be considered are the dimensions of the bird house. Different species of birds have requirements when it comes to space in the house. So it makes sense to look at the interior of the structure, the size of the entrance hole and the height of the hole from the floor. The entrance should be near the top of the structure and proportionate to the size of the species that is going to inhabit it.Secondly, the structure must have good ventilation and drainage to prevent little birds from overheating or drowning inside their homes. If the bird house is acceptable in all areas except drainage and ventilation, it should, at least, be able to withstand the drilling or sawing in order to create slots and drainage holes.The home should provide easy access for cleaning and monitoring purposes. This is usually accomplished when one wall of the structure is set on hinges or lifts out. Bird houses that do not provide easy access for cleaning or monitoring are not considered very good housing.Lastly, the material used in building the structure is very important. Care should be given that the building material is not toxic if ingested by the birds. Also, using metal material could cause the house to overheat. Therefore, metal domiciles should be hung in the shade.

Bird houses should be practical before beautiful. This is why stability in the structure should always come before beauty. Houses that are simply stapled, nailed or glued together should be avoided. Joints should be glued before they are nailed with rust resistant nails, hinges and screws.

When all of these criteria are met and birds still seem to snub their human-provided homes, the answer may be nothing more than moving the structure to a different location in the garden. Making the environment for those finicky aviaries beautiful and safe will make bird watching for the landlords a most pleasant experience.

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Article Submitted On: January 27, 2011

Chimps: Human's Closest Relatives

Chimpanzee sometimes also called as chimp is actually name of the two living species of ape kept in the genus Pan. Congo River forms the boundary between the habitats of these two species. These two species are the Common Chimpanzee and the Bonobo. Chimpanzees are placed along with gorillas, humans and orangutans in the family Hominidae. They evolved about 6 million years ago and are the closest relatives of humans. The two Pan species are believed to have split about 1 million years ago.

A lot of fossil records about humans are available but the fossil record of chimpanzee was not known before 2005. The existing populations of these animals in the West and Central Africa do not overlap the Human fossil sites namely east Africa. The fossils of these animals have been recovered from Kenya. It indicates that both humans and chimpanzee populations dwelled in the Rift Valley of East Africa during the Pleistocene. The male attains a height of 1.7 m and may weigh up to kg while female is somewhat smaller. The arms are long and are about one and a half times longer than the body height. The arms are even longer than the legs. The Bonobo is somewhat shorter and thinner than the common chimpanzee but has longer limbs. Both species use their long arms for climbing on trees. When on ground they use their knuckles to walk and the locomotion is known as knuckle walking.

Chimpanzees are better adapted for walking on ground as compared to the orangutans as their soles are broad and toes are shorter. Both the species can walk upright on their two legs while holding any object in the arms. Bonobo walks more perfectly on the two legs as compared to the chimp. The fur coat is dark in colour, face, fingers, palms of the hands, and soles of the feet are hairless and chimps lack tail. The exposed part of the skin especially of the face, hands and feet may be pink to dark in colouration. Jaws are somewhat protruding. The brain is about half the size of human brain. The testicles are somewhat as compared to the body size. This can be attributed to the polyandrous nature of their mating behaviour. They attain sexual maturity at the age of 8-10 years of age with an average lifespan of 40 years. Some chimps have been found to live for about 60 years when kept in captivity.

Both the species have slight variations in their external appearance but their social and sexual behaviours have marked differences. The common chimp has an omnivorous diet with a troop hunting which is led by alpha male showing highly complex social relationship. On the other hand bonobo are frugivorous in their diet with egalitarian, nonviolent, matriarchal, sexually receptive behaviour. Chimps live in multi-male and multi-female groups known as communities. There is a dominant male known as alpha male. This male controls all the activities of the group. Female groups also have hierarchy controlled by a female. The females prefer an alpha male for mating. They are known to make tools in order to gather food and social displays. They are also capable of showing sophisticated hunting strategies requiring cooperation, influence and rank; they are status conscious, manipulative and capable of deception; they can learn to use symbols and understand aspects of human language including some relational syntax, concepts of number and numerical sequence. They communicate through vocalizations, hand gestures, and facial expressions. They have sharp memories. Chimps, gorillas and orangutans show laughter like displays in response to physical contact, such as wrestling, play chasing, or tickling. The males are highly aggressive and can even kill other chimps.

Interesting Zebra Facts and the Differences Between Each Species

By Linda Aviles Linda Aviles
Level: Platinum

Linda Aviles enjoys reading, writing and giving advice on many different subjects. She enjoys writing about Home Improvement and Interior Design.

The black and white stripes on a Zebra proves that opposites do attract. Zebras are known to reinforce their bond by grooming one another. They symbolize perfect balance and harmony. They are social animals which believe in family unity. They will form a circle around a dangerous predator and prepare to strike if the predator intents to attack. Zebras would also circle a wounded member and attempt to drive-off the predator. A large mass of moving Zebras makes it difficult for some predators to attack because the blended black and white stripes can confuse the predator, making it difficult for the predator to make a direct attack. The Zebras long, thin legs also help to make a quick and easy escape and one powerful kick from this hoofed animal can cause serious injury to any predator, which includes lions, leopards, cheetahs and hyenas.

Although Zebras may look the same from a distance, there are actually three different types of Zebras with three different stripe patterns. The Plains Zebra is the most common and recognizable Zebra. They can be found live in treeless grasslands and savanna woodlands. They weigh around 600 pounds and can stand 57 inches high at its shoulders. The black stripes consists of different lengths and widths that come together in the midsection of the animal to resemble the letter Y. The Mountain Zebra weighs around 650 - 700 pounds. They are generally found in the mountains or hilly habitats. Their black and white stripes are vertical, with the exception of their belly which is solid white. Last but definitely not least is the Grevy's Zebra. Grevy's are the largest of all Zebras, weighing an astonishing 1,000 pounds. They live in grasslands and semi-arid scrub. It's black and white stripes differ from the rest of the species because they are more narrow and the stripes encircle the rump in a concave pattern.

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Article Submitted On: February 08, 2011

A Guide to Clam Sizes

All About Clams

Clams are bivalve mollusks, meaning, they are a classification of sea creatures that have shells as their own means of body protection. Clams are usually used as food, as an addition to aquariums, and, way back in the past, as currency. Clams are even worshipped by some tribes in Peru in the past.

Clams, when bought commercially, typically has two classifications: the hard shelled clam and the soft shelled clam. The hard shelled clam are those commonly found in the saltier waters along tidal areas. Many of these can be found along the eastern coast lines of North America, and sometimes, these can even be found 60 feet below water level.

On the other hand, soft shelled clams are not as equipped as the hard shell cherrystone to endure high levels of salinity. Usually, they can be found in estuaries as well as in muddy tidal flats. Soft shelled clams are common in Canada as well as on the eastern coast of the United States, as well as in the Pacific Northwest. Even along the western coastlines of Britain, one will be able to see lots of soft shelled clams.

On Clam Sizes

When buying cherrystone, especially if they will be used for food, it is very important to be intimately familiar with clam sizes. That's because clams these days are largely categorized as per their sizes.

For instance, the hard shelled clams from the eastern coast, which are almost always called as per their size. There are four classifications of hard shelled as per their size. There are the cherry stones, the little necks, the chowder or quahog clams, and then, the button clams. The smallest among these types of clams is the button clam. The rule with hard shelled is that the smaller its size and the younger the clam, the tastier and the more tender its meat will be.

On the other hand, with soft shelled clams, there is commonly no classification at all. Basically the only time when soft shelled clams employ another name is when they are finally cooked by steaming, through which they will be now known as steamers. Aside from steaming soft shelled cherrystone, other wonderful ways of cooking them would be through frying or by using them as an ingredient in chowder dishes.

The Biggest Clam Ever

The biggest clam species is named as the giant clam, belonging to the species of the Tridacna gigas. These clams can reach to sizes of as much as four feet and they typically weigh up to 440 pounds.

But if we are going to ask just what is the size of the biggest clam ever caught in history, well, it is one that has a measurement of 53 inches and a weight of more than 500 pounds.