Nemo and I have been together for nine years. A long time–especially in parakeet years. So you can imagine my surprise when her new veterinarian Dr. M. Scott Echols immediately recognized and recorded her special super power:

Dr. Echols explained that some budgies–particularly in wild populations–fluoresce under UV light. As he describes in the video, this energetically costly characteristic may help with individual identification, social signaling, and mate selection.

A surprising number of people contacted me during the past week about the recent mass wildlife deaths reported all over the world and posted across the internet. Some say it’s a sign of “End Times” (although apparently Kirk Cameron disagrees) and others wonder what’s changed in the environment.

John Roach has got the full story, including an interview with conservation biologist Stuart Pimm about the real reason we should all be concerned: Although such events are relatively routine (just not typically reported), one in six bird species is threatened with extinction.

That’s a pretty big deal. In fact, it’s just the kind of crisis that should be making headlines. So if you work at a newspaper, write a blog, or choose content for other media, please consider reporting the real story here….

Is this not the cutest thing ever? Recently in Park City, Utah my mother and aunt encountered (and rescued) this little guy….

While North Carolina is buried in snow, it’s good to remember Spring is on the way…

H/T Zuska

You may have already come across this fantastic clip of a beautiful, very confused, critically endangered parrot circulating the interwebs:

Yes, this fellow is cute and funny, but more importantly, the video provides reason to tell the rest of his story.

The Kakapo (Strigops habroptila) is the fattest, largest, and rarest species of parrot on earth. It is a flightless, nocturnal bird that lives on four offshore islands near New Zealand. Estimates vary, but according to the BBC, there are only 90 left on Earth (after numbers have increased over past decades). The Kakapo feeds on leaves, nectar, fruit, stems, roots, and seeds, and breeds just once every two-five years. I hope, despite the title of this television series, this is not our ‘last chance to see‘ this incredible animal.

It should be no surprise to readers that birds are among my very favorite critters. Aside from occasional blogger Sparticus Maximus The Great, I also reside with a pair of recessive pied budgies named Nemo and Che (who are real proud to be descendants of dinos). So naturally, I said I’d be delighted to review the new Smithsonian Field Guide to the Birds of North America by Ted Floyd, the editor of Birding Magazine. While I’ve long been fascinated with Aves, I became far more interested in birding while in Africa last summer with the Pimm group, which happens to be full of expert birders.

In short, the new field guide is spectacular. From striking photography to detailed descriptions of over 750 species, it’s by far my favorite birding guide yet. It also comes with a DVD including images and 587 vocalizations (5 1/2 hours of play). There are over 700 range maps complete with migration patterns and detailed info on taxonomy, behavior, habitat, and conservation status. You’ll find some of my favorite photos on pages 244 and 334. In my opinion, the Smithsonian Field Guide to the Birds of North America is an ideal companion for everyone from the novice to the most experienced birder.

And for readers who aren’t up for the great outdoors this afternoon, be a birder from the comfort of your home laptop… Introducing The Wild Parakeets of Hillsborough Road, Nemo and Che:

Also worth checking out: A Field Guide to the Photographic Field Guides of North America over at The Birder’s Library.

A one-month-old Ferruginous Pygmy-owl, Glaucidium brasilianum, at the National Zoo in Managua, in the spring of 2008. The owl was brought to the zoo after its nest fell from a rotten branch at a construction site.

Bonus points if you recognize the quote in the title.

Introduction by Sparticus Maximus the Great

It was with great interest I read his thought-provoking piece last October on the plight of the marbeled murrelet. Aside from the obvious urgency of the situation, his article brings us one step closer to breaking down avian bias in the blogosphere. So today I introduce Sheril’s post in order to highlight her co-blogger’s brave leadership in taking on mammalism at it’s worst. Despite his concurrent inexplicable interest in pachyderms (ugly, ridiculous, bumbling creatures that they are), Chris clearly recognizes his feathered fans deserve lots of attention–and lots of land. Yes readers, as Sheril writes below, yesterday the heroic murrelet was victorious!

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According to E&ENews PM, the Fish and Wildlife Service has decided not to move forward with plans to shrink the threatened marbled murrelet’s habitat. Instead, they’ll continue protecting 3.9 million acres for the Pacific shorebird explaining ‘it is not appropriate at this time‘ to revise the designation.

Why the change of heart?

It’s possible agency folks simply wanted to protect an extremely cute shorebird… or pressure from publicized disputes over logging and old-growth forests had influence… or conflicts in court over controversial land plans were irreconcilable…

We may never know, but regardless of the motivation, don’t you just love a happy ending?

Then again, Ren Lohoefener, director of the FWS’s Pacific Region added ‘the service may decide to revisit the current critical habitat designation at a later time.’ Still, at least for now, the marbled murrelet will live to dive another day.

You may have noticed Science Blogs runs a regular Ask A Science Blogger question referenced on Frontpage where different Sciblings provide interesting perspectives.

Well twice now, Sparticus Maximus the Great has taken over The Intersection with his own expert bird brain opinion. He weighed in on the passing of his hero Alex the Grey and hijacked the blog another morning to express concern over Socks and India – the notorious felines of the White House.

Readers have reacted by requesting regular commentary and lately he’s even getting email – As if the little parrot didn’t already have an enormous ego, now he’s simply unbearable… squawking to be bathed and demanding only the best seeds and pellets for his delicate palate.

It’s enough that we’re finally giving in. We invite everyone to submit questions to our own ‘Ask A Sun Conure.’ Email the impish bird about science, politics, or anything that puzzles you at sparticus.maximus@yahoo.com and every now and then we’ll let him crash The Intersection and teach us all a little something new.

Just please don’t inflate his sense of self importance any more, because he’s becoming terribly difficult to live with ever since becoming a famous guest science blogger.