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Speciation for Dendroica Warblers
This mathematical model provides an incisive tool to gain a clearer understanding of the pattern and rate of speciation for groups of closely related species, even in the absence of a fossil record, simply by analyzing their DNA.
Related: Evolution in Darwin’s Finches - Density-dependent diversification in North American wood warblers - Bird Species Plummeted After West Nile
Molecular Action May Help Keep Birds on Course
If the hypothesis is true, the planet’s magnetic field lines — which arch around Earth from north to south — may be plainly visible to birds, like the dashed line in the middle of a road.
The work, described online yesterday in the journal Nature, was conducted in a test tube and does not prove that birds actually use the mechanism. And researchers aligned with a competing model say they are not convinced.
But by identifying for the first time a molecule that reacts to very weak magnetic fields, the experiments prove the plausibility of a long-hypothesized method of avian navigation that has had a credibility problem because no one had ever found a molecule with the required sensitivity.
Related: Monarch Butterfly Migration - Mini Helicopter Masters Insect Navigation Trick - Other bird tagged posts

The last few days a bird like this one has been chasing a crow in my yard (unfortunately I have not been able to get an action picture of that). If you know what type of bird this is please add a comment.
When I see robins pecking away in the grass sometimes I see them get worms but my guess is they often are eating other stuff. I also see starlings feeding on my lawn. I found some online links that I quote below on what robins and starlings eat.
Related: Backyard Wildlife: Sharpshinned Hawk - Cool Crow Research - Backyard Wildlife: Fox - Backyard Wildlife: Turtle
Cornell University: American Robin
History And Biology Of European Starlings In North America
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Using behavioral molecular mapping, we discovered that in songbirds, parrots, and hummingbirds, all cerebral vocal learning nuclei are adjacent to discrete brain areas active during limb and body movements. Similar to the relationships between vocal nuclei activation and singing, activation in the adjacent areas correlated with the amount of movement performed and was independent of auditory and visual input.
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Based upon these findings, we propose a motor theory for the origin of vocal learning, this being that the brain areas specialized for vocal learning in vocal learners evolved as a specialization of a pre-existing motor pathway that controls movement.
Related: bird tagged posts - Why do We Sleep?
Dino-Era Feathers Found Encased in Amber
Very cool. Related: Nigersaurus - Dinosaur Remains Found with Intact Skin and Tissue

This bird of prey was eating some unfortunate animal in my yard today. You can see some remains if you look very closely at the birds feet in the photo. The bird in the picture is surprisingly small; other raptors I have seen have all been much larger. Anyone know what type of bird it is? Please add a comment.
Other wildlife I have spotted in my backyard include: humming bird, raccoon, chipmunks, fox, possum, rabbits, turtle, many birds including hawks and/or falcons, cardinals, doves, butterflies, bats, lightning bugs, all sorts of bees, squirrels, praying mantis and ants. I also see several cats prowl the yard frequently.
Related: Backyard Wildlife (Fox) - Backyard Wildlife (Turtle) - Curious Cat Travel Photos - The Engineer That Made Your Cat a Photographer - New York City Travel Photos - DNA Offers New Insight Concerning Cat Evolution

Very cool project - A Vending Machine for Crows
Joshua Klein Thesis presentation definitely watch this! (the webcast takes like 30 seconds before the talk starts - it is worth the wait). Watch a video from the University of Ithaca site (with Dr. Kevin McGowan).
Other sites that also are mentioned as possible sites: Dr. Anne Clark, University of Binghamton (with a captive population of crows); Dr. Natalie Jeremijenko (seed podcast), Dr. Carolee Caffrey, Harvard and Dr. James Ha, University of Washington. Read the Paper by Joshua Klein about the plans for the experiment.
Related: The Engineer That Made Your Cat a Photographer - Backyard Wildlife: Fox - Ants on Stilts for Science
“Instant” Evolution Seen in Darwin’s Finches, Study Says by Mason Inman
Since then the medium ground finch, a long-time Daphne resident, has evolved to have a smaller beak—apparently as a result of direct competition with the larger bird for food.
Evolutionary theory had previously suggested that competition between two similar species can drive the animals to evolve in different directions.
But until now the effect had never been observed in action in the wild.
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Jonathan Losos is an evolutionary ecologist at Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts, who was not involved with the Grants’ work.
“This study will be an instant textbook classic,” he said.

Photo of the Bird Flu virus, courtesy of 3DScience.com.
Avian Flu (site broke link so I removed it), World Health Organization Meeting to Discuss Avian Flu Pandemic as Bird Flu Continues to Spread Through Europe
Top influenza official Margaret Chan said the outbreak in poultry is historically unprecedented. She said the deadly virus presents a greater challenge to the world than any other emerging infectious disease.
The meeting was called to plan a response in case the bird flu virus mutates into a widespread human flu virus.
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