TREAD MOREhehot summer in the UK
provided a much-needed boost for wildlife with butterflies, moths and
grasshoppers all thriving, the National Trust says.
The warm weather also led to an explosion of berries, nuts and seeds.
The trust's Matthew Oates said 2013 was "one of the most remarkable wildlife years in living memory".
But it said a cold, late spring meant badgers and hedgehogs
did not have their usual quantity of worms, and some seabirds died from
starvation.
'Real cracker'
Bees and crickets were among other winners.
The distinctive tree bumblebee - which only began to colonise
in the UK 12 years ago - was seen north of Hadrian's Wall for the first
time.
Many insects had been scarce last year because of poor weather.
The cool spring also provided a long flowering season for snowdrops, primrose and bluebells.
And in some places, there was an explosion of orchids.
Book reading s,TV series transcript s,comedy, personal, Red circle podcast, Book Review s,Interviews, its popcorn for the brain. Blog copyright Mark Antony Raines
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Saturday, 28 December 2013
New analysis of ocean currents may solve eel mystery
A new analysis of wind-driven Atlantic currents may help scientists solve a mysterious decline in eel numbers.
These secretive creatures are born in the Sargasso sea but migrate to Europe where they spend most of their lives.But unexplained fluctuations in the numbers of those traversing the ocean have thwarted efforts to save the species.
Now researchers believe they have built a computer model that will accurately predict the level of migration.READ MORE
Tuesday, 24 December 2013
Ups and downs for UK's nocturnal species
Barn owl
67% increase in their range since the late 1980s according to the British Trust for Ornithology's (BTO) recently published Bird Atlas 2007-11
Experts are still investigating why populations have been increasing but point to the provision of nest boxes and environmental schemes on farms as possible factors.
Paul Stancliffe from the BTO describes 2013 as a "lean year" for the birds due to a cold start but remains hopeful for next year's breeding season.
Nightjars
Populations have increased by 128% since 1981.
Restoration of heathland habitats has helped the birds to recover from dramatic declines in the late 20th Century.read more
Migrating birds lured into traps
UK sovereign base areas (SBAs) in Cyprus have become illegal bird-trapping "hot spots", according to research.
The RSPB and BirdLife Cyprus have been monitoring songbird-trapping operations on the island since 2002.
BirdLife Cyprus told BBC News that, in that time, the scale of bird-trapping had increased by 54%. read more
The RSPB and BirdLife Cyprus have been monitoring songbird-trapping operations on the island since 2002.
BirdLife Cyprus told BBC News that, in that time, the scale of bird-trapping had increased by 54%. read more
Royal pardon for codebreaker Alan Turing
read more
The conviction meant he lost his security clearance and had to stop the code-cracking work that had proved vital to the Allies in World War Two.
The pardon was granted under the Royal Prerogative of Mercy after a request by Justice Minister Chris Grayling.
'Appalling' treatment "Dr Alan Turing was an exceptional man with a brilliant mind," said Mr Grayling.
He said the research Turing carried out during the war at Bletchley Park undoubtedly shortened the conflict and saved thousands of lives.
Computer pioneer and codebreaker Alan Turing has been given a posthumous royal pardon.
It addresses his 1952 conviction for homosexuality for which he was punished by being chemically castrated.The conviction meant he lost his security clearance and had to stop the code-cracking work that had proved vital to the Allies in World War Two.
The pardon was granted under the Royal Prerogative of Mercy after a request by Justice Minister Chris Grayling.
'Appalling' treatment "Dr Alan Turing was an exceptional man with a brilliant mind," said Mr Grayling.
He said the research Turing carried out during the war at Bletchley Park undoubtedly shortened the conflict and saved thousands of lives.
Monday, 23 December 2013
PET SURVIVOR OF THE YEAR
Saturday, 21 December 2013
UK bases in Cyprus 'are bird-trapping hotspots'
UK sovereign base areas (SBAs) in Cyprus have become illegal bird-trapping "hotspots", according to research.
The RSPB and BirdLife Cyprus have been monitoring songbird-trapping operations on the island since 2002. BirdLife Cyprus told BBC News that, in that time, the scale of bird-trapping had increased by 54%.
Although it is widespread, the charity said that some of the largest trapping operations were on UK soil.
Continue reading the main story
“Start Quote
BirdLife CyprusA dozen birds can fetch up to 80 euros”
These take place on the two
British SBAs in Cyprus, at Akrotiri and Dhekelia, sites covering about
100 sq miles that are British sovereign territory and within which the
UK maintains a permanent military presence.
Martin Hellicar from BirdLife Cyprus explained that in
Dhekelia - in the south-east of the island - organised criminal gangs
created "labyrinths" of acacia trees, irrigating the plantations and
cutting corridors through them in order to set up long mist nets. These operations often also use loudspeakers with recordings of bird calls in order to lure migrating birds into the almost invisible nets.
The songbirds are killed and sold to restaurants for the illegal but widely available Cypriot delicacy ambelopoulia.
"A dozen birds can fetch up to 80 euros," a spokesperson from BirdLife Cyprus told BBC News. READ MORE
Neanderthals could speak like modern humans, study suggests
An analysis of a
Neanderthal's fossilised hyoid bone - a horseshoe-shaped structure in
the neck - suggests the species had the ability to speak.
This has been suspected since the 1989 discovery of a Neanderthal hyoid that looks just like a modern human's.But now computer modelling of how it works has shown this bone was also used in a very similar way.
Writing in journal Plos One, scientists say its study is "highly suggestive" of complex speech in Neanderthals.
Continue reading the main story
“Start Quote
Prof Stephen Wroe University of New England, Armidale, NSW, AustraliaIf Neanderthals also had language then they were truly human, too”
The hyoid bone is crucial for
speaking as it supports the root of the tongue. In non-human primates,
it is not placed in the right position to vocalise like humans.
An international team of researchers analysed a fossil Neanderthal throat bone using 3D x-ray imaging and mechanical modelling.This model allowed the group to see how the hyoid behaved in relation to the other surrounding bones.
Stephen Wroe, from the University of New England, Armidale, NSW, Australia, said: "We would argue that this is a very significant step forward. It shows that the Kebara 2 hyoid doesn't just look like those of modern humans - it was used in a very similar way."
He told BBC News that it not only changed our understanding of Neanderthals, but also of ourselves.
"Many would argue that our capacity for speech and language is among the most fundamental of characteristics that make us human. If Neanderthals also had language then they were truly human, too."read more
Former BBC sports broadcaster David Coleman has died aged 87 after a short illness.
He first appeared on air for the BBC in 1954, covering 11
Olympic Games from Rome in 1960 to Sydney 2000 and six football World
Cups.Coleman presented some of the BBC's leading sporting programmes, including Grandstand and Sportsnight, and was the host of Question of Sport for 18 years.
He was awarded an OBE in 1992 and retired from the BBC in 2000.
Later that year he became the first broadcaster to receive the Olympic Order award, in recognition of his contribution to the Olympic movementr.i.p please read more
OTTER HAS A FISH TAKEAWAY
A mystery raider was heard at PLYMOUTH FISHERIES ,the staff at first called the police untill an OTTER was spotted tuckinmg into thier seafood stock.The superviser said he had never seen an otter before at the fisherery.
TURTLE DOVES -12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS NO MORE?
The TURTLE DOVE is one of our fastest declining species due to inhabit,half the area it once was.Its believed as few as 1,000 pairs by 2020.OPERATION TURTLE DOVE has been set up to boost numbers.
The Gonzo Daily: Hawkwind review
The Gonzo Daily: Hawkwind review: When 2010 hit, Hawkwind seemed to move into warp speed when it came to releasing new material. 2010 brought Blood of the Earth, and 2012 bro...
Cryptozoology-face book page group
1)
The group is about CRYPTOZOOLOGY and CRYPTIDS. That means that you
should only be making posts that involve "unexplained and mysterious
creatures". This also includes creatures that are believed to be extinct
and strange mutations. If you want to post information about
ALIENS/UFOS/PARANORMAL/ RELIGION
then it is not following the topic and purpose of the group. Jokes and
humor regarding Cryptozoology and Cryptids are welcomed and enjoyed.
Conver...
NEW THREAT FROM ACID SEAS
Researchers-DR HELEN FINDLAY,DR CERI LEWIS took part ii a combined survey via PLYMOUTH AND EXETER UNIVERSITIES-CATLIN ARTIC SURVEY.The study took part in ARTIC SPRING and found COPEPODS-TINY CRUSTACENS may not be able to survive due to seas becoming more acidic which in turn could impact food chain.Some ares are already experienccing the fastest rates of acidifation on EARTH,combined sea loss ,warming temper
matures,impactcts on marine ARTIC life.
matures,impactcts on marine ARTIC life.
WESTCOUNTRY NEGLECT
PEOPLES DISPENSARY FOR SICK ANIMALS-PDSA-carried out a survey in the SOUTHWEST,thier found a third of pet owners are not familier with the 5 basic needs of thier pets under ANIMAL WELLFARE ACT.1 FEEDING THE RIGHT DIET.2 PROVIDING RIGHT ACCOMODATION.3 ALLOW THE ANIMAL TO DISPLAY ITS NATURAL BEHAVIOUR.4 GIVING A PET APPRORPORIATE BEHAVIOUR.5PROTECTION FROM HARM.The survey found the following pet care standards lower than ever.Too many dogs getting less exercise, too many treats,left alone for more than 5 hours.
LIDI SELL SKIPPY -KANGAROO MEAT
LIDI is selling roo steak over christmas period ,the animals are cullied and thier babies ,pouch young will be pulled from dying mother and smashed about the head and discarded.PLEASE DO NOT SUPPORT ,MAKE A COMPLAINT OR DO NOT USE LIDI ,STOP NOW
I KNEW IT WAS NOT REAL
Well it finally true,a team of JAPANESE boffins claim EARTH is not real but a hologram.Its all taking place in an separate flatter cosmos whre is no gravity.everything is projected through space and time to form universe.-IBARAKI UNIVERSITY.
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