Category Archives: Offbeat

Lost Racing Pigeons Rescued From Deserted Island

by Amy Posted on 20 August 2006

Racing pigeons, blown off course by storms, have been rescued from remote Scottish islands by National Trust staff. The birds faced starvation due to lack of suitable vegetation, or becoming prey to other birds, if they remained on the island. Some of the lost birds are believed to have started their journey from as far away as France. Read the full story Lost pigeons saved from islands on the BBC.

Share the birds, share the love!
Posted in Aside, Europe, Offbeat, Pigeons! | Leave a comment

British Soldiers Follow The Birds In Afghanistan

by Amy Posted on 10 August 2006

“The RSPB’s online video footage of osprey chicks has been entertaining the troops in Afghanistan. The RSPB has received emails from soldiers serving in war torn Afghanistan, thanking them for the web-based coverage, which allows them to keep in touch with the wildlife of home.” Read the full story RSPB webcams keeping spirits up in Afghanistan at the RSPB.

Share the birds, share the love!
Posted in Aside, Europe, Offbeat, Webcams | Leave a comment

Longest Migration On Record: 46,000 Miles

by Amy Posted on 8 August 2006

A diminutive sea bird has completed the longest migration on record. The Sooty Shearwater travels the Pacific Ocean in a figure-of-eight pattern each year, flying up to 46,000 miles on its migration route. These extraordinary migration routes represent the longest recorded of any animal tracked to date.
read more | digg story

Sooty Shearwater
Sooty Shearwater by Hilary Chambers, Creative Commons on Flickr

Share the birds, share the love!
Posted in Aside, Migration, Offbeat, Science & Tech | Leave a comment

Pelican Trouble In Southern California

by Amy Posted on 26 June 2006

Last week a Brown Pelican crashed into a car on the Pacific Coast Highway near Laguna Beach. Both bird and driver survived the crash. Later in town, three disoriented pelicans were found. All birds are thought to have been intoxicated by domoic acid, a by-product of pollution in coastal waters. At least sixteen other reports of bird drunkenness have been reported in the area. Read more in The Scotsman, WISTV and KSAT.

Share the birds, share the love!
Posted in Aside, North America, Offbeat | Leave a comment

The Cheating Heart of Swans

by Amy Posted on 12 June 2006

Swans have long been viewed as a symbol of fidelity and everlasting love. But they are in fact cheating philanderers that regularly flee the nest for extramarital sex, Australian researchers reveal. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) testing has shown that one in six cygnets is the product of an illicit encounter, smashing the birds’ monogamous image.
read more | digg story

Share the birds, share the love!
Posted in Aside, Offbeat, Science & Tech | Leave a comment

German Shepherd Saves Ducklings From Death

by Amy Posted on 30 May 2006

A German Shepherd in Edinburgh discovered two lost Mallard ducklings in some undergrowth. Much to the amazement of his owner and the local SPCA, Duke picked up the helpless birds in his mouth and brought them to the safety of his blanket, where he proceeded to give them a tongue bath. You can read the whole story Good shepherd plucks lucky ducks to safety with his jaws at the Edinburgh Evening News.

Share the birds, share the love!
Posted in Aside, Europe, Offbeat | Leave a comment