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Caspian Tern Migration, Bird Aggression, and a Unique Ancient Bird Fossil | WBW S2 E15

Welcome to another episode of The Weekly Bird Wrap by Neil Hermes where I recap some of the most amazing stories and facts about birds across the nation and from all over the world! 🌍

If you missed the last episode, go ahead and click this page.

And for this week, I’m covering three stories for you.

 

Caspian Terns Migration

The Caspian Tern is the largest of the terns, in fact, larger than many gulls. These fish-eating waterbirds are common along both coasts and locally inland in North America, mainly around large bodies of water. Both parents bring food for the young. The Caspian Terns are noted for their long adolescence, with the young dependent on their parents for as long as 8 months. Both parents 

In a study, published in Nature Communications, a team from Finland, Sweden, and the UK tracked entire Caspian tern families with GPS devices to find out how the birds find their way during their migration.

The study showed that male parents carry the main responsibility for leading young during their first migration from the Baltic Sea to Africa.

Furthermore, after careful analysis of the study, it is found that young Caspian terns always remained close to an adult bird, and those young birds that lost contact with their parents during the migration eventually died.

The study also shows that during their first solo migration back to their breeding grounds, young Caspian terns used the same migratory routes they took with their father on their first journey south. 

It’s a generational thing: one generation is teaching the next.

 

Aggression in Birds

Backyard bird feeders may ruffle some feathers but they’re also attracting aggression in birds. In particular locations, birds that are non-aggressive to one another have been aggressive when food gets short.

 

Ancient Fossil Bird Found

A fragment of wing bone discovered in one of New Zealand’s most significant fossil sites is thought to have belonged to an ancient mystery bird with features that don’t fit into any known group of birds and may represent a new family.

However, scientists also told that the new bird shares some traits with mousebirds, which live in Africa.

The newly discovered bird has been named Zealandornis Relictus.

 

New Tour: Albatross Watching from Jervis Bay Tour

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Loved my bird tour content? Well, Nothing beats being there on the spot, watching the birds!

Meet nature’s most extraordinary seabirds up close – Welcome to the Albatross Watching from Jervis Bay Tour by Neil Hermes.

Saturday 13 August
Jervis Bay
$245 – Early bird special ends on 30 April! Book now before the price increase.

The waters off the south coast are a sea bird-watching paradise in the winter months, especially for many species of albatross. These magnificent birds come close to the coast at this time of the year after their summer breeding on Antarctic islands.

Come & join me for the best viewing opportunities for pelagic birds, whales, turtles, and dolphins.

Book now. Click here to find out more information.

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