It’s been a rough few days. If you find birds and flat, open landscapes calming, as I do, here is a video.
Tough Little Birds
Research on Dark-eyed Juncos and why animals do what they do
It’s been a rough few days. If you find birds and flat, open landscapes calming, as I do, here is a video.
Tough Little Birds 
Thank you. I love every single post you make but this one was particularly thoughtful.
Thanks for your comment. I was hesitant to put something “political” on what I want to be a blog about science, but… well, those things aren’t as separate as I wish they were, in this world. And the video made me feel better, so if it could make anyone else feel a bit better, it felt worth posting.
a lovely, beautifully done video–thank you
but the reduction in the numbers of the spoonbill sandpiper now has me worried (better than worrying re Trump)–I assume/hope studies are being done to determine the cause and what is needed to reverse the problem…
Yes, the Spoon-billed Sandpiper is not in good shape; this video was made as part of the mission to determine reasons for decline. It’s also been used to try to help: this article (http://www.audubon.org/magazine/november-december-2012/fighting-save-spoon-billed-sandpiper) describes using the video to increase awareness of the birds among the local fishermen whose fishing methods endanger them. Apparently the fishermen were quite moved by the video of the little chicks.
Also, the first individuals have been satellite-tracker tagged, and the project is periodically updating on where the birds have flown. Here is the first relevant post: http://www.saving-spoon-billed-sandpiper.com/2016/10/all/the-worlds-smallest-satellite-tag-helps-one-of-the-worlds-rarest-species/