May Programs at Rust Sanctuary

MAY 16: 8 to 10 AM—Beginning Birding

Learn Birding basics on the 3rd Saturday of each month at Rust Nature Sanctuary.  Binoculars, field guides and the basics of how to watch and learn to identify birds will be covered.

MAY 16: 10 to 11:30 AM—Cold Blooded Critters: Frogs and Toads

Saturday 10-11:30 This is the last in a 3 part series uncovering the mysteries of reptiles and amphibians. We will challenge myths about these fascinating creatures and explore the exciting reality about the way these creatures hunt, hide and survive.  Recommended for ages 3-6 with an adult. Call 703-669-0000 or email sortmann@audubonnaturalist.org to register

MAY 19: 4:00 PM—Musical Mark and the Batsong Tour

The Batsong Tour with Musical Mark makes a stop at Rust Sanctuary!  Kids of all ages will enjoy Musical Mark and this fun interactive concert about bats May 19th from 4:00-5:00 PM.  The Batsong Tour ‘09 is a dynamic theatrical event with lots of surprises. The show includes cave-like features, maybe some low lying fog to set the mood along with a batty backdrop and special lighting features. An audio soundtrack accompaniment will enrich the music.  Musical Mark will perform in his bat costume and get the audience singing along with “Matt the Bat” and “Batsong Rap-a-long” for starters.   $5.00/person admission.

MAY 21: 3:30 to 4:30 PM—Predators and Prey

Join us in this thrilling new series as we explore the true cat-and-mouse chases of nature. Foxes and rabbits, hawks and chipmunks, even ladybugs and aphids cannot escape young detectives as we discover how these animals hunt, fly, hide and swim to survive in the wilds of our sanctuary. Recommended for children age 3-6 with an adult. $8 for drop in. Please register by calling 703-669-0000 or email susanneo@audubonnaturalist.org.

MAY 21: 7:00 PM—Whitetail Deer, Friend or Foe

Suburban development and agriculture provide ideal “edge” habitat for this species, which has added to its proliferation throughout Loudoun County.  Human vs. deer conflicts have become a daily occurrence on highways, farms and backyards.

The Audubon Naturalist Society is sponsoring this free program about the Eastern Whitetail Deer.

• Why are there so many deer?
• Is the growing deer herd in Virginia healthy for the species?
• Is the growing deer herd in Virginia healthy for the environment?
• What natural population controls, if any, are currently at play?
• What can we expect in terms of herd management in coming years?
• What about those products that claim to keep deer away.  Do they work?
• Are there any sure-fire methods to make your garden “deer proof”?

John Rohm of Virginia’s Department of Game and Inland Fisheries will offer insight into these questions and more while he talks about the natural history of the deer, the history of deer herd management and what we can do to coexist with this wildlife species.

Light refreshments will be served.  For more information call 703-669-0000.

Hike the Blue Ridge Center with Hillsboro Elementary School

Supporting and developing tomorrow’s environmental leaders is important.  Here is an opportunity to join students from Hillsboro Elementary School and Loudoun Valley High School on a nature hike at the Blue Ridge Center.

John DeMary and his students from the Loudoun Valley High School Environmental Explorations class will be along to point out various plants and wildlife we see along the trail. Bring your own lunch to enjoy after the hike.

WHEN: Saturday, April 25 from 10am to 12pm.

WHERE: Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship,11661 Harpers Ferry Road, Purcellville VA 20132

For more information, please email Amie Ware.

Directions to the site >>>

Watch live action bald eagles with EagleCam

It’s always fun to watch the eagles in their nest each year.  Tune in to the Norfolk Botanic Garden EagleCam.

Bookmark it and go back and keep tabs on the little ones through nesting season!

Related Links

Eagle Cam desktop wallpaper

Send an Eagle Cam e-card

Who’s watching Eagle Cam?

Eagle Cam in the classroom

3000 ft long Beaver dam probably world’s largest

WebEcoist posted a wonderful article called the 7 Architectural Wonders of the Natural World.  Since all of us here at greener loudoun love wetlands, this part of the story had to be passed along.

Dual-Built Beaver Dam: Longest in the World

(Source)

The longest recorded beaver dam in the world spans 2800 feet and has existed for over a decade. From the aerial images it is clear that at least two beaver families have worked in tandem in the construction of the record-setting structure. The nature of the wetland is such that long dams are needed to trap broad stretches of low-flowing water. Other dams in the area have been sized at up to 1500+ feet but at nearly 3000 feet this two-family dam is a one-of-a-kind discovery.

MORE AT WEBECOIST >>>

Local wildlife and rainforest species share problem of forest fragmentation

Image via Wikipedia

Forest fragmentation is a real problem for wildlife.  When parts of a forest are cleared it becomes broken up into islands.  This occurs through land development, logging, road building, farming, and other disturbances.

What is created is a whole lot of “edge” habitat.  Deer love it and some other generalists and species that can tolerate forest edge conditions are winners.  Species that need “deep forest” conditions lose big time.  Forest fragmentation is a major concern where suburban America pushes further out into previously undeveloped land.

When we talk about the rainforest, we think of the threat as wholesale clear-cutting.  While this certainly is occurring at an alarming rate, the effects of fragmentation on the rainforest has not received nearly as much attention.

According to a post at MONGABAY.COM, a new study, conducted in the Brazilian Amazon, takes a detailed look at the types of birds that are likely to persist, and even thrive, in forest fragments.

Collecting field data on the behavior of forest-dependent bird species, Alexander Lees and Carlos Peres of the University of East Anglia found that species persistence in isolated fragments was strongly linked to their ability to cross gaps consisting of non-forest habitat. The most capable gap-crossers were medium to large-bodied bird species that feed on seeds, fruit, and insects.  Gap-crossing is strongly influenced by the degree of isolation, a combination of gap width and the vegetation or “matrix” surrounding a forest fragment. The less isolated a patch, the more likely it is to be visited, and perhaps colonized, by bird species … CONTINUED

What Lees and Peres suggest is that wide gaps between fragments are a problem for birds but can be made “more hospitable” to bird movement by maintaining or restoring streamside forested buffers, “stepping-stone” clusters of trees and “living fences” to allow wildlife movement.

Forest fragmentation is the land use change from forest cover to a non-forest cover. This is represented in the above image starting from the upper left and moving clockwise. Source: Michigan Forests Forever

The solution to rainforest species is no different than what we are experiencing in our own backyard.  Buffers along streams and rivers are not only an effective way to filter pollution and halt stream bank erosion, they are also critical travel corridors for birds, mammals, and other wildlife. In developing areas, fragmentation is going to happen.  What we need to do, and push our local government planners to do, is maintain forest buffers, hedgerows, and other vegetated travelways for wildlife.  Green space needs to be connected to green space – some call this the Green Infrastructure.  An interconnected network of green supports a larger variety of species and results in healthier wildlife populations through genetic diversity. Oh and by the way, when wildlife wins, we win!

February Programs by Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy

Via LOUDOUN WILDLIFE CONSERVANCY

FEBRUARY 2009 PROGRAMS AND FIELD TRIPS

BIRDING ALGONKIAN PARK IN EASTERN LOUDOUN ― Saturday, Feb. 7, 8 a.m.  Join Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy on a bird walk at Algonkian Park. The park has varied habitat, including a long frontage along the Potomac. Admission to the park is free and ample parking and comfort stations are available. Meet at the parking lot by the pool. Bring binoculars. For more information, contact Andy Rabin at stylurus@gmail.com, or 703-723-6926.

WOODS AND FIELDS IN THE COLDEST MONTH ― Sunday, Feb. 8, 1–4 p.m.  Registration Required.  Join Phil Daley and the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy for an exploration of the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship during winter. The Blue Ridge Center comprises 900 acres on the west side of Harpers Ferry in northwestern Loudoun County. Meet at the Neersville Volunteer Fire Station on Rt. 671 at 10 a.m. To register, contact Phil at 540-338-6528 or pdaley@loudounwildlife.org.

BIRDING BANSHEE ― Saturday, Feb. 14, 8 a.m.  Join Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy and the Friends of Banshee Reeks at the Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve for the monthly bird walk. Because of its rich and varied habitat, this part of the county is a birding hot spot. Please bring binoculars. For more information, contact Joe Coleman at 540-554-2542 or jcoleman@loudounwildlife.org.

SUNDAY IN THE PRESERVE ― Sunday, Feb. 22, 1 p.m.  Join the Friends of Banshee Reeks and Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy for a free informal, family walk around the preserve. Search for the many natural wonders that make this such a special place. For information, call the Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve at 703-669-0316.

BIRDING THE BLUE RIDGE CENTER ― Saturday, Feb. 28, 8 a.m. On the fourth Saturday of each month (except December), Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy leads a free bird walk at the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship (BRCES). This beautiful 900-acre preserve is located on Harpers Ferry Road, Route 671, in northwestern Loudoun County. Only a few miles south of Harpers Ferry and the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers, the property includes meadows in the valley and heavily forested slopes on the Blue Ridge. Meet at the Neersville Volunteer Fire Station on Route 671 at 8 a.m. For more information, contact Joe Coleman at 540-554-2542 or jcoleman@loudounwildlife.org.

BLUEBIRD NESTBOX MONITORING ― Saturday, Feb. 28, 1– 3 p.m.   Registration Required. Elizabeth Evans and Debra Gutenson, Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy (LWC) County Coordinators for the Virginia Bluebird Society, provide an orientation at Banshee Reeks on nestbox monitoring and the protocol used in Loudoun for collecting and reporting data. Program includes an overview, discussion of current trails being monitored around Loudoun, and a slide show about bluebirds, their nesting habits, habitat needs, and preferred foods. Tips on gardening for bluebirds will be discussed as well as the use of natural cavities and nestboxes. A typical nestbox system with predator guards will be set up for demonstration. Those interested in joining a monitoring team for the 2009 season can sign up during the meeting. Those interested in monitoring a home nestbox or trail and providing data to LWC can register their trails/boxes during the meeting as well. Sign up online or call 540-822-5438.

Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy is an all-volunteer non-profit organization whose mission is to promote the preservation and proliferation of healthy wildlife habitats throughout Loudoun County. Visit www.loudounwildlife.org or call 540-554-2542.

Male vs. Female

Earlier this week I posted “Sorry guys, when things get really tough female brains fare better”

Yes, according to research  by a University of Pittsburgh medical research team “When it comes to keeping brains alive, it seems nature has deemed that females are more valuable than males” [more].

OK … score one point for the gals.

flickr photo: "vintage portrait of girl and boy" Uploaded on June 8, 2007 by freeparking

But today, ScienceDaily reports that Women Cannot Control Their Hunger As Well As Men. Research shows that men, but not women, are able to control their brain’s response to their own favorite foods. The study may help explain why rates of obesity and eating disorders are higher among women than men, and why women typically have more difficulty losing weight.

OK … Score one for the guys.

Living with a female mouse can extend the reproductive life of a male mouse by as much as 20 percent. (Credit: iStockphoto/Floris Slooff)

But ScienceDaily is also reporting that simply living with a female mouse can extend the reproductive life of a male mouse by as much as 20 percent. The study conducted by Ralph Brinster and a team of other researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine found “a reduction of fertility six months earlier in “lonely” mice as opposed to those who have female companionship.”

…Hmmm, I’m not sure.  I guess I have to give that one to the female sex.

READ MORE >>>

Feb 21: Winter Tree Identification

Learning to identify trees when there are no leaves requires a knowledge of branching patterns and learning to identify species by their buds and other clues.

Saturday, February 21st, the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship will host WINTER TREE IDENTIFICATION beginning at 10am

Bryant Bays, of the Virginia Department of Forestry, will lead the walk around the center’s trails and show you how to identify a variety of native and non-native deciduous trees common to our part of the Blue Ridge.

For more information contact Attila at 540-668-7640.

Directions

Ivory-billed woodpecker could have survived, study says

A new paper published in the online journal Avian Conservation and Ecology by researchers at the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources adds another angle to the ongoing debate about modern existence of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker, according to a post at ScienceDaily.

Image: http://animals.nationalgeographic.com

The ivory-billed woodpecker was thought to have gone extinct following indiscriminate logging in the 1940s until reports began surfacing in the flooded forests of eastern Arkansas in 2004.  No solid evidence has been found to prove the continued existence of the ivory-billed.  Controversy has raged about whether there were even enough of the woodpeckers left to keep the species going through the latter part of the 20th century.

The study reveals that the ivory-billed woodpecker could have persisted if as few as five mated pairs survived the extensive habitat loss during the early 1900’s.

“It doesn’t prove that they do exist,” said Warnell Professor Michael Conroy. “It just shows that they could have persisted.”

READ MORE >>>

Hang in there baby … tree frog

How do tree frogs hang on?  This is an excerpt from a post at Scientific American …

Biologist Jon Barnes of the University of Glasgow in Scotland, who led the research, used an atomic force microscope (AFM), which can provide images on the scale of billionths of a meter, to scan the feet of White’s tree frogs. To the naked eye, the frogs’ toe pads appear patterned with flat-topped, hexagonal cells surrounded by grooves filled with mucus. On closer inspection, however, Barnes discovered that the tops were not flat at all but rather were covered by tightly packed “nanopillars,” each with a small dimple in the end, which generate powerful friction against the surfaces they contact.

Although mucus can be a lubricant, for tree frogs the substance—only 1.5 times more viscous (resistant to flow) than plain water—serves as a “wet” adhesive. The reason: the nanopillars and larger structures on the toe pads come in direct contact with surfaces. As a result, the small amount of wet mucus between these protrusions provides adhesive forces … CONTINUED

Goats helping people help Bog Turtles – Luv it!

All of us at greener loudoun love turtles and goats so this was a story that could not be passed up!

Image: Bog Turtle by John White at http://fwie.fw.vt.edu/VHS/reptiles/turtles/bog-turtle/bog_turtle1.htm

Via the bayjournal …

Every day, during the hottest months of summer, 19 workers labored to remove woody vegetation that has invaded a 5-acre wetland in Carroll County, MD. These workers are not your typical Fish and Wildlife staff. They’re goats, and their affinity for woody vegetation make them superb partners in restoring this wet meadow, which is critical habitat for the federally threatened bog turtle (Clemmys muhlenbergii).

Image from "Goats Cut Carbon Emissions" by http://intelligenttravel.typepad.com

Bog turtles are known to occur in Cecil, Harford, Baltimore and Carroll counties of Maryland. Besides illegal collection for the pet trade, the primary threat to bog turtles is loss of the wetlands on which they depend. Saturated, spring-fed wetlands such as bogs, fens, wet meadows, sedge marshes and pastures with soft muddy areas provide the habitat these turtles require for feeding, breeding and hibernation. Development, shifts in land use, woody succession and the encroachment of invasive plants all contribute to loss of bog turtle habitat … READ MORE >>>

When will the mighty Chestnut return?

As a child growing up in Pennsylvania I remember walking in the woods and seeing enormous tree stumps.  As a small boy I’m sure they seemed even larger than they really were.  I recall asking my father about these wonderous remnants of what must have been towering and majestic trees. He told me they were what remained of American Chestnut trees that had been killed by “the blight”.

Chestnut, in particular what we called “wormy Chestnut”, was the most coveted wood in Pennsylvania.  Its warm color and resistance to decay made it ideal for all sorts of woodworking and was the structural framework and siding for the most durable barns.  So what happened?

Through the first-half of the 20th century, the American Chestnut tree (Castanea dentata) was the dominant forest tree species in Pennsylvania and the East but it was virtually eliminated from the landscape by an Asiatic blight fungus (Cryphonectria parasitica) carried on exotic plant materials imported by plant explorers in the late 1800s.

Huge American Chestnut Tree photo from www.chattoogariver.org

According to a post at Physorg.com,

A decades-long process of introducing blight resistance by cross-breeding Chinese chestnut trees with American chestnuts, and then back-crossing the hybrids with American chestnuts to select for desirable American chestnut form and traits, seems to be close to bearing fruit. “We have a six-generation breeding program — we think that will be adequate for both full American character and blight-resistance,” said Sara Fitzsimmons, Northern Appalachian regional science coordinator for the American Chestnut Foundation and a research support technologist in Penn State’s School of Forest Resources.

Mighty Giants: Photo courtesy of the Forest History Society

“The fifth generation trees are currently planted at the Penn State Arboretum and at our Meadowview facility in southwestern Virginia. We collected seed from those trees last year and we actually have sixth-generation plants growing in pots right now at Penn State.”

Those potted plants could be — indeed should be – blight-resistant, according to Fitzsimmons. But it will be years until researchers know for sure. “Does this process work? Honestly, we don’t know,” she said. “But we will be testing it in the next 10 years to be sure the blight resistance is there.”

“It may take 100 or 150 years to see these trees restored to Eastern forests on any sort of large scale,” Fitzsimmons conceded. “But it might not be much more than 10 or 15 years until folks can go to local garden stores or nurseries and buy blight-resistant chestnut trees. That’s exciting.”

Even if the sixth-generation trees now being grown don’t produce satisfactory blight-resistant seed, Fitzsimmons is confident that blight-resistant American chestnut trees will be developed soon. “Even if this plant material doesn’t pan out, we have so much material coming through the pipeline that it will do the trick,” she said.

GO TO SOURCE PAGE AND READ FULL ARTICLE >>>

Visit THE AMERICAN CHESTNUT FOUNDATION Homepage >>>

Baby, It’s Cold Outside!

How do you survive the cold?  Sweaters, turn up the heat, hot soup? Wildlife do not have the luxury of clothing and shelter that we enjoy.  So, how does nature adapt to the cold months?

Sign up for the January walk “Baby, It’s Cold Outside!”

WHEN: Sunday, January 18, 2009  1 – 3:30pm
WHERE: Rust Nature Sanctuary, 802 Childrens Center Rd SW, Leesburg, Virginia 20175

You will explore the basics of winter ecology and the many strategies organisms from grasses to grackles employ for winter survival. These walks are recommended for ages 10+ up, and admission is $5 per walk or any three for $10. Space is limited, so please rsvp to the Rust Nature Sanctuary at 703-737-0021or visit their website.

Buzzing honeybees help protect plants while they pollinate

“Our findings indicate for the first time that visiting honeybees provide plants with a totally unexpected advantage.  They not only transport pollen from flower to flower, but in addition also reduce plant destruction by herbivores.”

- Biozentrum Universität Würzburg, Germany research team led by Jürgen Tautz.

ScienceDaily Honeybees are important to plants for reasons that go beyond pollination, according to a new study published in the December 23rd issue of Current Biology. The insects’ buzz also defends plants against the caterpillars that would otherwise munch on them undisturbed.

Caterpillars possess fine sensory hairs on the front portions of their bodies that enable them to detect air vibrations, such as the sound of an approaching predatory wasp or honeybee.  Caterpillars cannot distinguish between hunting wasps and harmless bees.  If an approaching object generates air vibrations in the proper range, caterpillars stop moving or drop from the plant.

If caterpillars are constantly stressed by buzzing bees, as they likely are in fruiting trees heavily laden with blossoms, they will feed a lot less … READ MORE

Beautiful patterns carved in rock and sand

All photos are from http://pixdaus.com

Toad and tree frog need each other

Two species common to the Mid-Atlantic area, the American toad and the gray tree frog apparently need each other.

Eastern Gray Tree Frog. http://www.cedarbog.org

A study out of Colorado University finds that biodiversity is good for toad legs. Two species of amphibians, the American toad and the gray tree frog, seem to have a symbiotic relationship. When there are no gray tree frogs in an ecosystem, American toads are more likely to have malformed legs

American Toad. http://www.cedarbog.org

Biodiversity in Action
The toads and the frogs have a parasite in common, the trematode parasite. This little guy causes deformities in the legs of the American toads, but the gray frogs and especially their tadpoles, seem to“act as sponges” and are able to ease the toad’s plight. Furthermore, the tadpoles’ immune systems seem to be tough enough to regulate the number of trematode parasites in an environment.

READ MORE AT TREEHUGGER >>>

Inspirational story of an eagle, a man and their shared courage

This story came to me by email and I don’t know the origin.  I did check out the story on snopes.com and they say it is a true story.  You can also see more at Sarvey Wildlife Center’s webpage HERE.

It’s a great story of love, courage and hope, that I wanted to share in case you haven’t already seen it …

Not many people get a picture of this proud bird snuggled up next to them

Freedom and Jeff

Freedom and I have been together 10 years this summer. She came in as a baby in 1998 with two broken wings. Her left wing doesn’t open all the way even after surgery, it was broken in 4 places . She’s my baby.

When Freedom came in she could not stand and both wings were broken. She was emaciated and covered in lice. We made the decision to give her a chance at life, so I took her to the vets office. From then on, I was always around her. We had her in a huge dog carrier with the top off, and it was loaded up with shredded newspaper for her to lay in. I used to sit and talk to her, urging her to live, to fight; and she would lay there looking at me with those big brown eyes. We also had to tube feed her for weeks.

This went on for 4-6 weeks, and by then she still couldn’t stand. It got to the point where the decision was made to euthanize her if she couldn’t stand in a week. You know you don’t want to cross that line between torture and rehab, and it looked like death was winning. She was going to be put  down that Friday, and I was supposed to come in on that Thursday afternoon. I didn’t want to go to the center that Thursday, because I couldn’t bear the thought of her being euthanized; but I went anyway, and when I walked in everyone was grinning from ear to ear. I went immediately back to her cage; and there she was, standing on her own, a big beautiful eagle. She was ready to live. I was just about in tears by then. That was a very good day.

We knew she could never fly, so the director asked me to glove train her. I got her used to the glove, and then to jesses, and we started doing education programs for schools in western Washington . We wound up in the newspapers, radio (believe it or not) and some TV . Miracle Pets even did a show about us.

In the spring of 2000, I was diagnosed with non-hodgkins lymphoma. I had stage 3, which is not good (one major organ plus everywhere), so I wound up doing 8 months of chemo. Lost the hair – the whole bit. I missed a lot of work. When I felt good enough, I would go to Sarvey and take Freedom out for walks. Freedom would also come to me in my dreams and help me fight the cancer. This happened time and time again.

Fast forward to November 2000, the day after Thanksgiving, I went in for my last checkup. I was told that if the cancer was not all gone after 8 rounds of chemo, then my last option was a stem cell transplant. Anyway, they did the tests; and I had to come back Monday for the results. I went in Monday, and I was told that all the cancer was gone.

So the first thing I did was get up to Sarvey and take the big girl out for a walk. It was misty and cold. I went to her flight and jessed her up, and we went out front to the top of the hill. I hadn’t said a word to Freedom, but somehow she knew. She looked at me and wrapped both her wings around me to where I could feel them pressing in on my back (I was engulfed in eagle wings), and she touched my nose with her beak and stared into my eyes, and we just stood there like that for I don’t know how long. That was a magic moment. We have been soul mates ever since she came in. This is a very special bird.

On a side note: I have had people who were sick come up to us when we are out, and Freedom has some kind of hold on them. I once had a guy who was terminal come up to us and I let him hold her. His knees just about buckled and he swore he could feel her power coarse through his body. I have so many stories like that.

I never forget the honor I have of being so close to such a magnificent spirit as Freedoms.

Hope you  enjoy this.

Jeff

Frogs learn the scent of danger before they hatch

Via New Scientist

Animals learn that a smell or sound is a warning if it accompanies something dangerous.

flickr photo: Wood Frog Tadpole Uploaded on April 29, 2008 by sillyfrog

Frogs learn the scent of danger before they hatch, which may give tadpoles a head start in evading predators.

Maud Ferrari at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, Canada, and her team tested whether wood frog eggs could be primed to detect a predator’s scent. The team bathed the eggs in water that had previously contained fire-bellied newts. Half the eggs were also given a whiff of danger, in the form of an infusion of crushed-up tadpoles, whose death is marked by chemical signals. After the eggs hatched, the researchers gave the tadpoles a second burst of newt odour. Tadpoles whose experience of newt had been accompanied by the odour of dead tadpoles froze in place – a classic defence against predators. Those that had not had this training continued swimming as normal … CONTINUED

Turtles respond to warming climate

ScienceDaily reports on research demonstrating that Turtles are Altering Nesting Dates Due To Temperature Change.

Fred Janzen, a professor in ecology, evolution and organismal biology, has studied turtle nesting habits and also accumulated research going back decades in order to track the habits of the turtles to find out when they make nests and lay eggs.

“The results have been astonishing,” says Janzen. “In some cases such as regional populations of red-eared sliders, they are now nesting three weeks earlier than they did in the early 1990s. That is the fastest response to climate change of any species that I know of.”

image from pixdaus.com

An aspect of the study that surprised Janzen was the gender of the offspring.

The gender of turtle offspring, as with many reptiles, is typically determined by the temperature of the ground where they lay their eggs. Janzen predicted that with warming temperature, the phenomenon of temperature-dependent sex determination would cause a disproportionate number of females since warmer conditions produce that gender. Just the opposite seems to be happening. Male babies are outnumbering the females.

What determines a bird’s clutch size?

Via Physorg.com …

Why do some species of birds lay only one egg in their nest, while others lay 10 or more?

A global study of the wide variation among birds in this trait, known as the “clutch size,” now provides biologists with some answers. The study, published in the current issue of the journal PLoS Biology, combined data on the clutch sizes of 5,290 species of birds with information on the biology and environment of each of these species.

"Feeding Children" uploaded at http://pixdaus.com

Some of the study’s findings:

• cavity nesters, such as woodpeckers, have larger clutches than open-nesting species
• species in seasonal environments, especially those living at northern latitudes, have larger clutches than tropical birds
• species that are short-lived or have a low survival rate among their offspring tend to lay more eggs at one time to increase the chances of having surviving offspring
• longer-lived species or those with a higher survival rate among offspring tend to lay fewer eggs in their nests and invest more time and effort in raising their offspring
• clutch sizes can vary widely between closely related species due to variations in their environment, nutrition, health and predation.
• increased environmental variation causes birds to lay larger clutches
  

The authors of the study—who included Cagan Sekercioglu, a senior research scientist at Stanford University and Katrin Böhning-Gaese of Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz, Germany– were aided in their investigation by detailed records of the life histories of birds throughout the world … CONTINUED HERE