Latest news with #falcons
Khaleej Times
21-07-2025
- Science
- Khaleej Times
UAE releases 81 falcons into wild in Kazakhstan in May; some tracked with satellite devices
Eighty one falcons were released into the wild in Kazakhstan in May 2025, as the Sheikh Zayed Falcon Release Programme (SZFRP) enters its fourth decade. This brings the total number of falcons released by the programme since its establishment in 1995 to 2,355. All falcons in the programme underwent a series of veterinary examinations and intensive training, the installation of identification metal rings, and the implantation of electronic chips. Ten falcons (five falcons of each species) were provided with satellite tracking devices whose batteries are powered by solar energy, to monitor survival rates, spread and migration routes, and to collect scientific data that is used to develop rehabilitation, training and release methods. The programme continued in Kazakhstan for the ninth consecutive year, with the release of 53 peregrine falcons and 28 saker falcons within their migratory range, which includes parts of Kazakhstan, Russia, China, Mongolia, and neighboring countries. These areas feature rugged mountains and vast plains, providing abundant prey for the falcons. The initiative aims to increase falcon populations and protect them from the risks of expanding human activities at the expense of natural habitats, unsustainable breeding practices, climate change, and other factors that put them at risk of extinction.
Forbes
29-06-2025
- Science
- Forbes
There Are Only 3 Extinct Falcons — A Biologist Tells Their Story. Hint: One Is Of Cuban Origin
More than 35 species of falcons roam the Earth's skies at present. But there used to be at least ... More three others. Here's the story of the confirmed falcon species lost to the world forever. Falcons are a thrilling species of bird. The peregrine falcon, for instance, owns the title of the world's fastest bird, reaching speeds of up to 240 miles per hour while diving for prey. Another illustrious falcon is the gyrfalcon. It is the biggest of all falcon species and is sometimes found in a majestic, all-white coloration. Other impressive falcons include Eleonora's falcon, the Mauritius kestrel, and the Eurasian hobby. Three falcon species that you won't find anywhere in the world are the Cuban kestrel, the Réunion kestrel and the Guadalupe caracara. Here's their story, from genesis to extinction. Cuban Kestrel The Australian brown falcon, pictured here, may hint at the Cuban kestrel's ecology, both had long ... More legs and likely hunted on the ground. The Cuban kestrel (Falco kurochkini) is the most recently described extinct falcon species, known only from fossil remains discovered in western Cuba. It likely vanished shortly after European colonization began in the 1500s. Unlike other kestrels, which are known for hovering while hunting, the Cuban kestrel had unusually short wings and long legs – traits suggesting it was more terrestrial than aerial. It likely hunted on the forest floor, preying on insects, small reptiles and possibly amphibians. This kestrel lived in an ecosystem that included now-extinct owls and a variety of forest birds. The arrival of Europeans introduced invasive predators like rats, cats and mongooses to the island, which likely decimated the ground-dwelling Cuban kestrel. Habitat destruction from agriculture and logging may have also played a role. Researchers believe the Cuban kestrel was flighted but adapted for short bursts of movement rather than sustained flight. It's a rare example of a falcon that may have been heading toward a more terrestrial lifestyle. Réunion Kestrel The Mauritius kestrel, pictured here, is a close island relative of the extinct Réunion kestrel. ... More Once down to just four individuals, it rebounded thanks to intensive conservation. The Réunion kestrel (Falco duboisi) used to roam Réunion Island in the Indian Ocean, part of the Mascarene Islands. It is known from only a single historical reference – an account from 167os that described it as a threat to domestic fowl and game. It was persecuted soon after and no further sightings were recorded. The exact date of extinction remains unknown. Subfossil remains discovered in 1974 later confirmed it as a distinct species of kestrel, separate from others in the region. Unlike the forest-dwelling Mauritius kestrel (a closely related species endemic to the nearby Mascarene Island of Mauritius), which has short, rounded wings suited to maneuvering through dense vegetation, the Réunion kestrel likely resembled Eurasian kestrels in both form and function – adapted for life in more open habitats. It was believed to hunt insects and small vertebrates. As with the Cuban kestrel and many other island birds, its extinction likely resulted from a mix of hunting, habitat loss, and the introduction of invasive predators, such as rats and cats. Its extinction probably occurred around the late 17th or early 18th century. Guadalupe Caracara The crested caracara, shown here, is a close relative of the extinct Guadalupe caracara. The Guadalupe caracara (Caracara lutosa), also known as the 'Quelele,' is the best-documented of the extinct falcons and the only one in this group not classified within the Falco genus (though it is in the Falconidae family). It was endemic to Mexico's Guadalupe Island, a remote Pacific island west of Baja California. This striking bird, a relative of the crested caracara, was a scavenger and opportunistic hunter, feeding on seabird eggs, carrion, and small animals. Sadly, it became the target of deliberate extermination efforts by 19th-century settlers and goat herders who falsely believed the bird was a threat to livestock. The introduction of goats severely damaged the island's vegetation, compounding the caracara's challenges. Combined with persecution, habitat degradation, and a limited range, the species rapidly declined. The last confirmed sighting was in 1903, when naturalist Rollo Beck shot the final known specimen during a collecting expedition. Its extinction stands as a tragic example of human-driven loss in the ornithological world. Unlike the other extinct falcons, we have photographs, skins and full skeletal remains of the Guadalupe caracara. Why Did These Three Falcons Perish While Other Falcon Species Thrived? One thing that each of these birds had in common was their habitat: each was native to an island. History has shown that birds that inhabit islands, especially isolated islands, are particularly susceptible to extinction. The dodo, Stephen's island wren, Lord Howe pigeon and Rodrigues solitaire are a few such examples. The reason for this is multifold. For one, a limited range means that extinction can happen quicker. Second, on some islands, there's simply a lack of good places to hide from threats and predation. Finally, island ecosystems can be particularly fragile, with the introduction of even one invasive species tipping the balance forever. Are you an animal lover who owns a pet, perhaps even a pet bird? Take the science-backed Pet Personality Test to know how well you know your little friend.
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
What animal has the best eyesight?
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Imagine you're a red-tailed hawk, soaring through the sky. You scan the ground, looking for your next meal. You spot a squirrel hundreds of feet below you. Its coat helps it blend into the ground, but its camouflage is no match for your sharp eyesight. Birds of prey — such as hawks, eagles and falcons — are known for their hyperfocused vision. But you might wonder if these birds really come out on top, or if other animals have even more impressive eyesight. So, what animal has the best vision? In reality, there's no easy answer — but there are certainly some standouts. "There is no perfect visual system," Esteban Fernandez-Juricic, a professor of biological sciences at Purdue University, told Live Science. He explained that from an evolutionary perspective, the development of advanced visual systems is extraordinarily costly. That's because eyes are a big component of the nervous system, which needs a lot of energy. To keep things efficient, evolution drives animals to develop only the visual systems they need for their environment and behavior. Raptors such as eagles, hawks and falcons have a reputation for having great vision, and that reputation is well-earned. These birds need to detect food from very far distances — sometimes even miles away. To do this, their visual systems evolved to prioritize extremely high-resolution vision. Sign up for our newsletter Sign up for our weekly Life's Little Mysteries newsletter to get the latest mysteries before they appear online. According to Thomas Cronin, a professor of biological sciences at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, raptor vision is about three to five times more detailed than humans', so having eagle eyes would feel like looking through a pair of binoculars. Related: How do migrating birds know where they're going? These birds have two adaptations that help them see clearly. First, their eyes are bigger relative to their body size. Second, they pack more photoreceptors — the specialized cells in the retina that detect light — into their eyes. Taken together, these traits help raptors spot prey from far away. When it comes to color vision in the animal kingdom, there's a clear winner: the mantis shrimp. These alien-looking invertebrates live in shallow ocean waters, and they may be able to see colors we can't even comprehend. To understand how mantis shrimp see the world, it's important to know how color vision works. Humans have three types of photoreceptor cells that detect different wavelengths of light, roughly corresponding to red, blue and green. Many vertebrates have four types of photoreceptors, meaning our color vision is worse than that of many other species. "Most other animals have better color vision than we do," said Justin Marshall, a professor emeritus at the University of Queensland in Australia with a specialty in marine animal eye and brain structure and function. "We're comparatively colorblind monkeys." Mantis shrimp have an even more staggering number of photoreceptors, though. According to Marshall, these crustaceans boast 12 types of color photoreceptors. Some of those receptors are even tuned to detect light in the ultraviolet range, likely making the world of the mantis shrimp look very different from our own. Mantis shrimp also have special photoreceptors that can detect the polarization of light — a feature of light waves that derives from how sunlight scatters through Earth's atmosphere. But it's not clear exactly how the mantis shrimp brain processes all of this information. Their brains may be picking up on patterns of color combinations rather than detecting individual inputs from photoreceptors. "They're probably not trying to see four times as much color as us — they're just decoding the information in a different way," Marshall explained. Our vision may feel like a continuous stream, but there's a limit to how quickly our eyes and brains can process information. According to Cronin, humans see at a rate of about 60 frames per second. Our creepy-crawly friends, on the other hand, can pack in much more visual information over the same period. The visual systems of most insects can capture hundreds of frames per second. That's so fast that fluorescent lights — which flicker at or below the perceptible rate for human vision — would look like strobe lights to them. "If a fly were to fly into a movie theater, it would just think it's watching a really fast slideshow," Cronin explained. This ultra-high-speed vision is why it's so hard to swat a fly; they literally see us coming before we do. Flies accomplish this because their bodies are so tiny that the electrical signals between their eyes and brain have a much smaller distance to travel, meaning they process visual inputs much more quickly. RELATED MYSTERIES —Which animal has the best sense of smell? —Which animal is the best hunter? (And which is the worst?) —Which animals are evolving fastest? All of these specialized visual systems are impressive in their own ways, but they also come with compromises. For example, both mantis shrimp and insects have compound eyes, which are made up of distinct subunits. There are only so many subunits that can fit, so these animals' vision is much lower-resolution than ours, like a pixelated photo. With these trade-offs in mind, human eyes are adequate, according to Cronin. "People are a pretty good compromise," he said. "I wouldn't want to be a mantis shrimp, because my brain would be the size of a small pea. So I'm happy with what I have, to be honest."
CBC
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Young peregrine falcons prepare to take flight!
CBC Toronto's Haydn Watters went to the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Hamilton to speak to observe falcons preparing to take flight.
