Angry birds: Scientists find these warblers have road rage
Researchers visited 38 locations where Galapagos yellow warblers are commonly found. Of them, 20 sites were within 50 metres of the road while 18 were more than 100 metres away. They played bird songs that sound like an intruder to the yellow warbler as well as recorded traffic noise in each of these locations and looked at the warblers' behaviour. The scientists then recorded which songs the yellow warblers sang in response to the sounds along with observing any aggression.They found Galapagos yellow warblers living closer to the roadside showed more aggressive behaviours like approaching the speaker closely and flying across it over and over again. Warblers further away from the road showed less aggression.
The Galapagos Islands are found 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador. The volcanic islands are famous for being home to animals that can't be found anywhere else in the world. They're also historically significant. Charles Darwin came up with the theory of evolution when he visited the islands back in 1835. You can learn even more about the Galapagos Islands on BBC Bitesize.
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BBC News
11-07-2025
- BBC News
Timepiece linked to Charles Darwin voyage cannot leave UK
A timepiece used on a seagoing voyage by the HMS Beagle – the ship that carried Charles Darwin on his travels – has been placed under an export bar, meaning it cannot leave the move by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport is to allow time for a UK gallery or institution to buy the pocket chronometer, used aboard the vessel from 1831 to voyage is known for taking Shropshire-born naturalist Darwin to the Galapagos islands, where he carried out work that led to his groundbreaking theory of also took place to test scientific instruments, helping to establish Greenwich in London as the home of timekeeping. Chronometers are highly-accurate timepieces made for marine navigation, and this device had been made in London in 1830, a year before the ship embarkedBy the time the HMS Beagle returned to Britain, it had only lost 33 seconds over five Tim Pestell, a member of the reviewing committee on the Export of Works of Art, said the 1831-36 voyage was "most popularly associated" with Darwin, but its role in testing scientific instruments was less well said it would be a "tragedy" for the chronometer to be lost to the nation. Arts Minister Sir Chris Bryant said Darwin was one of the most well-known figures in the nation's said the chronometer not only played a part in Darwin's research, but also strengthened Britain's leading position in navigation. The success of the voyage was put down to the use of chronometers, which measure time with great precision and determine longitude - the imaginary, vertical lines on maps and globes that converge at the North Pole and South after the voyage, became internationally-accepted as the Prime Meridian, where longitude is Greenwich Meridian provides the measurement and name for the time zone, Greenwich Mean at £200,000, the chronometer went out of service in 1906 and later passed through the hands of collectors in London and export bar remains in place until 10 October. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
The Independent
01-07-2025
- The Independent
Graham Watkins: Runaway tourism threatens the future of the Galapagos Islands
Very few places in the world have influenced humanity as much as the Galapagos Islands, and they have a pivotal year ahead. 2009 is the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin, the 150th anniversary of the publication of the Origin of Species, and the 50th anniversaries of the foundation of the Charles Darwin Foundation and the Galapagos National Park. But for all their importance, the islands are still under threat. Today, this extraordinary archipelago, which has inspired countless visitors, is the premier natural environment in the world: one of the last well-conserved tropical archipelagos we have, and home to numerous unique species. Since Charles Darwin's 1835 visit and his use of the islands to illustrate evolution and adaptive radiation in the Origin of Species, the islands have been the focus of additional important research in understanding natural selection. But the islands were long host to whalers and colonists too, who left a series of legacies. These include the decimation of tortoise populations and the introduction of many new species that have wreaked havoc on the native flora and fauna. The islands are better conserved today than they were 100 years ago. Unfortunately, the runaway development of tourism means that the Galapagos are at risk again. Economic growth in the islands has drawn immigrants and increased the risks of new and increasingly dangerous, invasive species arriving. Resolving this problem will require strengthening governance, ensuring sustainable tourism, developing an island culture and continuing to restore the islands. The solutions will be led by the people of Ecuador and will necessarily involve ensuring the standard of living of Galapagos residents. But it is the co-responsibility of the world to support the government of Ecuador in the process. We can conserve Galapagos, but only through the concerted actions of all of the actors. If we can achieve sustainability, the value to the world will extend well beyond saving one of the last remaining natural treasures, to being a model for sustainable societies everywhere.
South Wales Argus
30-06-2025
- South Wales Argus
Llanbadoc and Usk celebrate the life and work of Alfred Russel Wallace
The day will commemorate the life and career of the Llanbadoc-born genius and will feature a day-long series of events in and around Llanbadoc and Usk. The date of this year's celebration coincides with the 167th anniversary of the momentous presentation by Wallace and Charles Darwin to the Linnean Society, London. The presentation introduced the world to the idea of evolution by means of natural selection. Wallace spent his early life in Usk and is often called the 'forgotten father of evolution.' While Darwin's name has become widely recognised, it was Wallace who independently conceived the theory and sent his manuscript to Darwin in 1858 – an act that prompted the historic presentation on July 1 that year. Wallace's immense stature in the scientific pantheon was summed up by David Attenborough: 'Wallace was one of the great naturalists of the 19th century and is regarded as the period's leading expert on the geographical distribution of animal species. Man arrested after woman hit by car on city street Road in Newport closes and causes traffic congestion due to 'fallen tree' 'He was also a prolific author, an explorer and social critic – and was indeed one of the most famous people in the world at the time. Today he is best known for independently conceiving the theory of evolution by natural selection, which prompted Charles Darwin to publish On the Origin of Species.' Usk Civic Society has long championed the legacy of Wallace, particularly his local connections and his deep affinity with nature, which was nurtured by the Welsh countryside. This year's event will include talks, exhibitions and a guided walk highlighting local links to Wallace's formative years. The Civic Society has said: 'Wallace's contribution to science is immense and we are proud to honour him here in Usk. His work helped change the way we understand the natural world and his legacy continues to inspire.' The event will also explore Wallace's later life, his work in natural history, and his advocacy for social justice, another aspect of his legacy that is being increasingly recognised today. Using knowledge of species distribution in the Indonesian archipelago, Wallace also correctly predicted continental drift, decades before German scientist Alfred Wegener, who scooped Wallace and others by publicising his findings in 1912. Today, Wegener is credited with the theory. Wallace's work on species distribution, which identified distinct biogeographical regions, predicted continental drift and this was established by Wallace as early as 1863. Usk extends a warm welcome to all who are interested in Wallace's legacy and hope their efforts will help recover his presence in the public mind. Wallace was born in Kensington Cottage, Llanbadoc, 1823 and died in Dorset, 1913. Anyone attending walks is asked to think about appropriate clothing. Schedule of events: 11.00 Start and Welcome 11.30 Guided Walk 1 long (1 ½ hour) 11.45 Guided Walk 2 short (1 hour) 11.45 Accessible (wheeled) Walk 12.00 Exhibition in Sessions House12 to 3.45 Short Films- 3 or 4 short films on a repeating loop 1.00 Usk Brass Band 1.00 BYO Picnic in park / Sessions House 1.00 Teas, Coffees, Cake 1.00 Craft Activities 4.00 Talk by Ray Hale. Wild Indonesia: The Search for the Birds of Paradise. 5.00 Finish .
