Articles
Here you will find a wide range of birding related articles from various organisations, conservation bodies as well as individual accounts of rare bird finds and other interesting articles.
 
Click on the More > link to read the article.
 
RBA Daily News Summaries - Daily summaries of the news on an easy to use, searchable page
 
 
Migratory birds have lighter-coloured feathers   (Research)
Researchers have discovered an unexpected way that migratory birds keep their cool during such arduous journeys. More here >
Written by:  (13 Dec 2021)
 
 
Dead White-tailed Eagles test positive for bird flu   (Conservation News)
Dead eagles found in Scotland and Ireland in recent weeks have tested positive for Avian influenza (H5N1). More here >
Written by:  (09 Dec 2021)
 
 
Time is running out for Vietnamese wildlife hotspot   (Conservation News)
Snaring, trapping, shooting, fishing and logging are threatening a wide range of species in Kon Plong in the central highlands. More here >
Written by:  (07 Dec 2021)
 
 
Ring-billed Gulls found able to pass the 'string-pull' test   (Research)
The string-pull test is a widely used experiment to test the cognitive abilities of animals and this is the first time a gull has passed. More here >
Written by:  (07 Dec 2021)
 
 
The Rare Bird Alert birding round-up 30 Nov - 6 Dec   (Weekly Roundup)
Jon Dunn looks back on the best birds from the last seven days from around Britain, Ireland and the WP. More here >
Written by:  (07 Dec 2021)
 
 
Wintering grounds of Europe's Greater Spotted Eagles uncovered   (Research)
Scientists tracked birds to better understand the movements and pressures they face outside of the breeding season. More here >
Written by:  (03 Dec 2021)
 
 
Cameron's Cottage opens in the New Forest   (News)
Built in memory of Cameron Bespolka, the facility connects young people with limited access to nature with the outdoors. More here >
Written by:  (02 Dec 2021)
 
 
New UK Red List for birds: more than one in four species in serious trouble   (Conservation News)
The newly revised list now includes species, such as Swift, House Martin and Greenfinch for the first time. More here >
Written by:  (02 Dec 2021)
 
 
Finders in the Field: Brunnich's Guillemot, Holkham & Wells, Norfolk   (Finders account)
Whilst guiding a group of birders in north Norfolk Marcus Nash finds the county's first Brunnich's Guillemot. More here >
Written by: Marcus Nash,  (02 Dec 2021)
 
 
The Rare Bird Alert birding round-up 23 - 29 Nov   (Weekly Roundup)
Chris Batty looks back on a week where Storm Arwen brought a good selection of seabirds including an unprecedented influx of Brunnich's Guillemots. More here >
Written by:  (01 Dec 2021)
 
 
Ross's Goose added to the British List   (British List)
An adult at Plex Moss, Lancashire, from 5 December 1970 to 17 January 1971 becomes the first record for Britain. More here >
Written by:  (30 Nov 2021)
 
 
Extent of Sooty Terns' migration presents conservation challenges   (Research)
Researchers have found that birds ranged up to 2,900 km from their breeding colonies and covered some 47,000 km during an eight-month migratory period. More here >
Written by:  (30 Nov 2021)
 
 
Sea temperature rises causes increase in albatross separations   (Research)
Fewer nutrients at the water surface increases hunger and egg production resulting in birds separating. More here >
Written by:  (30 Nov 2021)
 
 
Free food from trawlers helps identify important areas for seabird conservation   (Research)
Studying fishing boats' routes could assist better coastal planning and ultimately protect threatened seabirds. More here >
Written by:  (30 Nov 2021)
 
 
Birds of prey wear 3D-printed shoes to treat foot disease   (News)
The innovative solution was created to treat a medical condition known as pododermatitis or 'bumblefoot' in birds. More here >
Written by:  (30 Nov 2021)
 
 
Portuguese Ruppell's Vulture tracked to Senegal   (News)
A Ruppell's Vulture GPS-tagged in Portugal following rehabilitation has already traveled to Africa two weeks after its release. More here >
Written by:  (30 Nov 2021)
 
 
New Red List of British butterflies   (Conservation News)
A new Red List assessment of the extinction risk of butterfly species in Great Britain has been produced by Butterfly Conservation. More here >
Written by:  (30 Nov 2021)
 
 
Norfolk's first Brunnich's Guillemot dies at Wells   (News)
A Brunnich's Guillemot has died hours after being found off the North Norfolk coast, the first confirmed record of the species in the county. More here >
Written by:  (26 Nov 2021)
 
 
The Rare Bird Alert birding round-up 16 - 22 Nov   (Weekly Roundup)
Jon Dunn looks back on a week that featured a Killdeer, an arrival of Lesser Scaups, and further afield a Siberian Rubythroat. More here >
Written by:  (23 Nov 2021)
 
 
Swanscombe Peninsula confirmed as Site of Special Scientific Interest   (News)
The area has been threatened by The London Resort - a proposed theme park on Swanscombe Marshes - Dubbed as the 'UK Disneyland'. More here >
Written by:  (23 Nov 2021)
 
 
Griffon Vultures transported to Cyprus to help prevent extinction   (Conservation News)
The first Griffon Vultures from Spain are about to arrive in Cyprus to support the extremely threatened population of the species on the island. More here >
Written by:  (23 Nov 2021)
 
 
Wildlife Trust announces the end of Birdfair at Rutland   (News)
After 30 years and millions of pounds raised for conservation the British Birdwatching fair at Rutland has been ended. More here >
Written by:  (23 Nov 2021)
 
 
Mark Avery's Book Review: More Birds than Bullets   (Book review)
Stories by Geoffrey McMullan on his experiences with birds, people, and the places he has visited whilst in the British Army. More here >
Written by:  (22 Nov 2021)
 
 
New member joins the RBA team   (News)
We are delighted to welcome Leicestershire birder Toby Carter to the RBA team. More here >
Written by:  (19 Nov 2021)
 
 
Feral cats blamed for deaths of 65 Cory's Shearwaters   (Conservation News)
The shearwater chicks were recently found near La Restinga, on the island of El Hierro on the Canary Islands. More here >
Written by:  (19 Nov 2021)
 
 
There may be more bird species in the tropics than we know   (Research)
Study of a perky little bird suggests there may be far more avian species in the tropics than those identified so far. More here >
Written by:  (18 Nov 2021)
 
 
The Rare Bird Alert birding round-up 9 - 15 Nov   (Weekly Roundup)
Jon Dunn looks back on a week which featured a Nutcracker, Northern Harrier, American Coot and Ancient Murrelet. More here >
Written by:  (16 Nov 2021)
 
 
Amazon Rainforest birds' bodies transform due to climate change   (Research)
This is the first study to discover these changes which eliminates other factors that may have influenced physiological changes. More here >
Written by:  (16 Nov 2021)
 
 
Black-browed Babbler documented in the wild for first time   (Conservation News)
A team of ornithologists discovered, photographed, and obtained the first-ever footage of the rare babbler in South Kalimantan, Indonesia. More here >
Written by:  (16 Nov 2021)
 
 
600 million breeding birds have been lost in Europe since 1980   (Conservation News)
A new study on breeding birds in Europe shows one out of every six birds over nearly a 40-year period has been lost. More here >
Written by:  (16 Nov 2021)
 
 
Finders in the Field: Belted Kingfisher, Brockholes, Lancashire   (Finders account)
Birder George Shannon was enjoying a day's Barbel fishing on the River Ribble when he found a Belted Kingfisher. More here >
Written by:  (16 Nov 2021)
 
 
Mark Avery's Book Review: Vagrancy in Birds   (Book review)
This is the first comprehensive coverage of a subject that has fascinated natural historians for centuries. More here >
Written by:  (15 Nov 2021)
 
 
Adelie Penguin turns up in New Zealand   (News)
Endemic to Antarctica the bird was found on a beach nearly 3000kms away on New Zealand's South Island. More here >
Written by:  (12 Nov 2021)
 
 
Finders in the Field: Upland Sandpiper, Unst, Shetland   (Finders account)
David Cooper continues his fine run of top finds on Unst, this time locating an Upland Sandpiper at Haroldswick. More here >
Written by:  (10 Nov 2021)
 
 
The Rare Bird Alert birding round-up 2 - 8 Nov   (Weekly Roundup)
Jon Dunn looks back on a week which featured a Belted Kingfisher, White-crowned Sparrow and a reappearing Taiga Flycatcher. More here >
Written by:  (10 Nov 2021)
 
 
Sniffer dogs help discover storm petrel colony in UK first   (Conservation News)
For the first time in UK conservation, sniffer dogs have been used to locate a Storm Petrel colony on the Isle of May. More here >
Written by:  (09 Nov 2021)
 
 
West Midlands bird study group receive one of ornithology's top awards   (News)
The West Midlands Ringing Group (WMRG) was awarded the Marsh Award for Innovative Ornithology by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) at a glittering ceremony at the Mall Gallery in London. More here >
Written by: BTO (09 Nov 2021)
 
 
Mark Avery's Book Review: Mistletoe Winter   (Blog Roundup)
Mistletoe Winter is a series of esssys and is a companion book to Roy Dennis's acclaimed Cottongrass Summer. More here >
Written by:  (09 Nov 2021)
 
 
Britain's best-loved birds could disappear from much of our coastline   (Conservation News)
Britain's Puffins, which are among the nation's best-loved birds, could largely disappear as a result of climate change over the coming years, new research reveals. More here >
Written by: BTO (09 Nov 2021)
 
 
Italian hunters caught with thousands of dead thrushes in Norway   (Wildlife crime)
Customs officers seized 2027 thrushes which the hunters said were for their own personal consumption. More here >
Written by:  (05 Nov 2021)
 
 
Finders in the Field: Varied Thrush, Papa Westray, Orkney   (Finders account)
Checking what he 'naturally assumed would prove to be a Redwing', found David Roche 'instantly reduced to a hyperventilating wreck' as he found the UK's second ever Varied Thrush. More here >
Written by:  (04 Nov 2021)
 
 
The Rare Bird Alert birding round-up 26 Oct - 1 Nov   (Weekly Roundup)
Jon Dunn looks back on a week in which one of the truly immense blockers of yesteryear finally fell. More here >
Written by:  (03 Nov 2021)
 
 
First Ruppell's Vulture tagged and released in Portugal   (Conservation News)
Two young Cinereous Vultures and one juvenile Ruppell's Vulture were released at Santo Andre das Arribas, Almofala, Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo, overlooking the Agueda river canyons, in Portugal. More here >
Written by:  (03 Nov 2021)
 
 
New genus of Tanager discovered in Boliva and Peru   (News)
The Inti Tanager was first documented in Bolivia in 1993 and has finally been fully described. More here >
Written by:  (03 Nov 2021)
 
 
Study finds California Condors can have 'virgin births'   (Research)
Researchers said genetic testing confirmed that two male chicks hatched in 2001 and 2009 from unfertilized eggs were related to their mothers, but neither was related to a male. More here >
Written by:  (02 Nov 2021)
 
 
The early bird gets...the truffle?   (Research)
New evidence suggests that birds may seek out truffles and disperse these ecologically important fungi. More here >
Written by:  (02 Nov 2021)
 
 
Monty's on the brink   (Conservation News)
The latest report from the Rare Breeding Birds Panel has been published and shows that Montagu's Harrier is on the brink with just one confirmed breeding pair in 2019. More here >
Written by:  (02 Nov 2021)
 
 
Shetland Kumlien's Gull photo wins ecology photography prize   (News)
Well known birder and photographer Rebecca Nason has won the British Ecological Society's annual photography competition. More here >
Written by:  (29 Oct 2021)
 
 
Scillonian IV gets go ahead as £48 million funding secured   (News)
The new vessel will come into service by March 2024 and will provide a more comfortable and speedy crossing. More here >
Written by:  (28 Oct 2021)
 
 
5 percent of Israel's Griffon Vultures wiped out in one mass poisoning   (Wildlife crime)
The latest wildlife crime in the country is a significant blow to its Griffon Vulture population. More here >
Written by:  (27 Oct 2021)
 
 
Bird of prey killings highest for 30 years   (Wildlife crime)
Almost two-thirds of incidents were in connection with land managed for or connected to gamebird shooting. More here >
Written by:  (27 Oct 2021)
 
 
The Rare Bird Alert birding round-up 19 - 25 Oct   (Weekly Roundup)
Jon Dunn looks back on the past week of birding from around Britain, Ireland and the Western Palearctic More here >
Written by:  (26 Oct 2021)
 
 
Allowing the sea back in could help UK meet climate goals   (Conservation News)
One restored coastal saltmarsh in the UK stores as much carbon over four years as just over one million new trees grown for ten years. More here >
Written by:  (26 Oct 2021)
 
 
Three month suspended sentence for Buzzard killer   (News)
Desmond Crawford from Co.Laois has been given a three-month suspended prison sentence for the possession of two dead Buzzards, which he shot and strung up on a fence. More here >
Written by:  (26 Oct 2021)
 
 
Roseate Tern has another record-breaking breeding season   (Conservation News)
The UK's rarest nesting seabird, the Roseate Tern, has broken breeding records for the sixth year in a row on the RSPB's Coquet Island in Northumberland. More here >
Written by:  (26 Oct 2021)
 
 
Licensed beaver killings in Scotland ruled unlawful and must be halted   (News)
Licensed beaver killings must halt and all previous beaver killings authorised by NatureScot have been unlawful, judge rules. More here >
Written by:  (26 Oct 2021)
 
 
BTO celebrates excellence in ornithology   (News)
The BTO gave out six awards to recognise the contribution the recipients have made to British ornithology at it's annual awards ceremony. More here >
Written by:  (26 Oct 2021)
 
 
Owl unseen for 150 years photographed in the wild for the first time   (News)
British scientists working in Ghana have photographed a 'holy grail' owl that has lurked almost unseen in African rainforests for 150 years. More here >
Written by:  (25 Oct 2021)
 
 
Climate change and human pressure mean migration may be 'no longer worth it   (Research)
Researchers have found changes in climate and increasing human pressure have eroded benefits of migration for many species. More here >
Written by:  (19 Oct 2021)
 
 
57 and Counting: another Hen Harrier disappears - presumed killed   (Wildlife crime)
The latest Hen Harrier to go missing once again disappeared suddenly on an English grouse moor. More here >
Written by:  (19 Oct 2021)
 
 
Discovering nocturnal bird migration in Beijing   (News)
Terry Townshend introduces a new project monitoring nocturnal bird migration over China's sprawling capital. More here >
Written by:  (19 Oct 2021)
 
 
Life-long conservationist receives RSPB's most prestigious award   (Conservation News)
Roy Dennis MBE - 'the man who brought the White-tailed Sea Eagles back to England' - received the RSPB's most prestigious award at the charity's AGM. More here >
Written by:  (18 Oct 2021)
 
 
Finders in the Field: Two-Barred Greenish Warbler, Spurn, East Yorkshire   (Finders account)
David Bevan and Adam Hutt tell their part in the finding and identification of a Two-barred Greenish Warbler at Spurn. More here >
Written by:  (18 Oct 2021)
 
 
Norfolk White-tailed Eagle reintroduction plan shelved   (Conservation News)
Wild Ken Hill has announced the shelving of the project but failed to give specific reasons for their decision. More here >
Written by:  (18 Oct 2021)
 
 
Is England's 'safe' rewilding holding back conservation gains   (Research)
A new study suggests that rewilding projects in England may not be going in far enough to make the greatest contribution to conservation. More here >
Written by:  (15 Oct 2021)
 
 
The Rare Bird Alert birding round-up 5 - 11 Oct   (Weekly Roundup)
Jon Dunn looks back on the past week of birding from around Britain, Ireland and the Western Palearctic, headlined by a Long-toed Stint in Yorkshire. More here >
Written by: Jon Dunn (12 Oct 2021)
 
 
Snowy Plovers, already a threatened bird, are caught up in Orange County oil spill   (Conservation News)
After a recent recovery, Snowy Plovers in California's Orange County have now been hit by an oil spill. More here >
Written by:  (12 Oct 2021)
 
 
Cotswold Water Park confirmed as a Site of Special Scientific Interest   (Conservation News)
Natural England's decision means better protection for rare and endangered wild birds and plants that live in and by the lakes. More here >
Written by: Natural England (11 Oct 2021)
 
 
Referential alarm calls increase vigilance in brood parasite hosts   (Research)
Yellow Warblers use referential "seet" calls to warn female warblers specifically of the brood parasitic Brown-headed Cowbirds that may try to lay eggs in their nests. More here >
Written by:  (08 Oct 2021)
 
 
Vultures prefer roosting near civilization   (Research)
Human-altered landscapes often bring hardships for wildlife - unless you're a vulture, according to a new study by University of Georgia researchers. More here >
Written by:  (08 Oct 2021)
 
 
How offshore wind development impacts seabirds in the North Sea and Baltic Sea   (Conservation News)
The massive scale of planned offshore wind development in Europe's Northern Seas poses a threat to seabird populations. More here >
Written by: BirdLife (08 Oct 2021)
 
 
Big Butterfly Count 2021 sees lowest ever number of butterflies recorded   (Conservation News)
Butterfly Conservation has released data on the number of butterflies and day-flying moths counted across the UK in this year's Big Butterfly Count. More here >
Written by: Butterfly Conservation (07 Oct 2021)
 
 
The Rare Bird Alert birding round-up 28 Sep - 04 Oct   (Weekly Roundup)
Jon Dunn looks back on an exciting week of autumn birding from around Britain, Ireland and the Western Palearctic. More here >
Written by: Jon Dunn (05 Oct 2021)
 
 
Finders in the Field: Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Unst, Shetland   (Finders account)
David Cooper continues his terrific rarity finding record with Shetland's second Rose-breasted Grosbeak. More here >
Written by:  (01 Oct 2021)
 
 
Ground-breaking conservation technique may yet save 'Spoony'   (Conservation News)
In 10 years head starting has increased the number of surviving fledglings from 2.5 of every 20 eggs laid to 15 out of every 20. More here >
Written by:  (29 Sep 2021)
 
 
Study of Great Tits, oak trees and caterpillars reveals complexity of climate change   (Research)
A trio of researchers at the University of Oxford has found that studying the interrelationships between Great Tits, oak trees and caterpillars has revealed some of the complexities involved in studying changes wrought by global warming. More here >
Written by:  (29 Sep 2021)
 
 
Researchers find nests of Critically Endangered Tanager   (Conservation News)
There is new hope for the Cherry-throated Tanager after researchers have found two nests in the mountains of Espirito Santo in Brazil. More here >
Written by:  (29 Sep 2021)
 
 
Birds' eye size offers clues to co-evolutionary arms   (Research)
Researchers found that brood parasites had larger eyes than host birds - beyond the difference expected as a result of their larger body size. More here >
Written by:  (29 Sep 2021)
 
 
US declares Ivory-billed Woodpecker extinct   (News)
Death's come knocking a last time for the splendid Ivory-billed Woodpecker and 22 more birds, fish and other species as The U.S. government is declaring them extinct. More here >
Written by:  (29 Sep 2021)
 
 
The Rare Bird Alert birding round-up 21 - 27 Sep   (Weekly Roundup)
Jon Dunn looks back on the past week of birding from around Britain, Ireland and the Western Palearctic. More here >
Written by:  (28 Sep 2021)
 
 
Seizure in Kuala Lumpur uncovers Southeast Asian live hornbill trade   (Wildlife crime)
Two Malaysian men have been arrested at Kuala Lumpur International Airport attempting to smuggle eight live hornbills to Bangladesh. More here >
Written by:  (28 Sep 2021)
 
 
Stop annual hedgerow flailing to help save rare butterfly - plea to landowners   (Conservation News)
The threatened Brown Hairstreak butterfly’s range in South-west Wales has more than halved in the last decade. More here >
Written by:  (28 Sep 2021)
 
 
Rabbits help rare species and unique Norfolk and Suffolk habitat   (Research)
European wild rabbits are a 'keystone species' that hold together entire ecosystems - according to researchers at the University of East Anglia. More here >
Written by:  (28 Sep 2021)
 
 
Desert teamwork explains global pattern of co-operation in birds   (Research)
A new study from the Kalahari Desert, by a research team at the University of Exeter, finds that teamwork allows birds to cope with brutally unpredictable environments. More here >
Written by:  (28 Sep 2021)
 
 
Beavers back in Derbyshire after 800 year absence   (Conservation News)
This is the first beaver reintroduction in the Midlands and has been three years in the planning. More here >
Written by:  (28 Sep 2021)
 
 
Alava's only Bearded Vulture killed in power line collision   (News)
The vulture named 'Flumen' becomes the latest victim of a collision with overhead powerlines. More here >
Written by:  (23 Sep 2021)
 
 
French President authorises the trapping of over 110,000 wild birds   (Conservation News)
President Macron has re-authorised the mass killing of Skylarks, Lapwings, Golden Plovers and thrushes. More here >
Written by:  (23 Sep 2021)
 
 
Varied fortunes for Scotland's wintering waterbirds   (Conservation News)
Numbers of wintering waterbirds have declined overall in Scotland, with waders showing the greatest decrease. More here >
Written by:  (22 Sep 2021)
 
 
The Rare Bird Alert birding round-up 14 - 20 Sep   (Weekly Roundup)
Jon Dunn looks back on the past week of birding from around Britain, Ireland and the Western Palearctic. More here >
Written by:  (21 Sep 2021)
 
 
23 years 11 months - White-tailed Eagle, oldest of its kind   (News)
A ring fitted to an eagle in the Highlands of Scotland in 1996 allowed it to be identified in the field in 2020. More here >
Written by:  (21 Sep 2021)
 
 
Cape Honeybees kill 63 endangered penguins in South Africa   (News)
Post mortems have shown that 63 African Penguins were killed by a swarm of bees in what is thought to be a very rare occurrence. More here >
Written by:  (21 Sep 2021)
 
 
Scientists investigate seabird deaths along east coast   (News)
An unusually high number of dead seabirds have been found along the coasts of Scotland and north-east England with many others emaciated and in poor health. More here >
Written by:  (21 Sep 2021)
 
 
Egyptian Vulture migrating to Africa disappears above Malta, likely shot   (Wildlife crime)
The young vulture named 'Isabel' is believed to be the second Egyptian Vulture shot on Malta this year. More here >
Written by:  (20 Sep 2021)
 
 
Cameraman killed and conservationist seriously injured in Highlands air crash   (News)
Cameraman Dan Burton has been killed and conservationist Sacha Dench seriously injured in a paramotoring crash in north west Highlands. More here >
Written by:  (20 Sep 2021)
 
 
Buzzard killer escapes justice   (Wildlife crime)
There will be no prosecutions for the killing of five Buzzards found on an estate on North Yorkshire Moors National Park. More here >
Written by:  (17 Sep 2021)
 
 
International outcry following mass slaughter of dolphins   (News)
There has been widespread anger and outrage after a super pod of Atlantic White-sided Dolphins were killed on the Faroes on Sunday 12th September. More here >
Written by:  (17 Sep 2021)
 
 
New report reveals pollution is biggest threat to wildlife on our waterways   (News)
Waterbodies across England, Wales and Northern Ireland are being devastated by poor water quality caused by agricultural waste, raw sewage, and pollution from abandoned mines. More here >
Written by:  (15 Sep 2021)
 
 
Peatland restoration brings back breeding waders to Snowdonia upland farm   (Conservation News)
Golden Plover and Curlew are breeding again on an upland farm in Eryri, the first breeding of the species there in over twenty years. More here >
Written by:  (15 Sep 2021)
 
 
The warming climate is causing animals to 'shapeshift'   (Research)
Some warm-blooded animals are getting larger beaks, legs, and ears to better regulate their body temperatures as the planet gets hotter. More here >
Written by:  (14 Sep 2021)
 
 
Disabled Kea uses tools for self-care   (Research)
Scientists say they've found the first evidence of tool use by a Kea for the purpose of self-care, in a new study from the University of Auckland. More here >
Written by:  (14 Sep 2021)
 
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