Websites
http://www.birds.cornell.edu university of birds, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology
http://youtu.be/4yyMEoqG0jA Bird life on Alaska's Yukon Delta, from Cornell Lab
http://www.graemechapman.com.au/ a photographer's site with an index of pics
http://www.xeno-canto.org/ a site dedicated to sharing bird sounds
Yukon Delta, Alaska
News articles
Some stunning bird prints by Victorian artist Meg Cole:
Police issue canister alert
ZARA DAWTREY| April 25, 2013 08.03pm
THE discovery of a canister filled with a toxic substance on a North-East beach has prompted police to issue a public safety warning.
The aluminium canister was handed in to St Helens police today after a local man found it washed up on the sand at Waterhouse, near Bridport.
Police say the contents are believed to be dry aluminium phosphate pellets normally used in industrial fumigation for pest control.
"The contents are stable when dry and sealed in the container, but when introduced to moisture they produce phosphine gas which is highly toxic and highly flammable," Sergeant Justin Bidgood said.
A person coming into contact with the gas could be severely poisoned or even die from exposure.
It is not the first such canister to wash up in recent days, with police revealing similar canisters have been reported as far afield as Cook Town in Far North Queensland.
Several others have been discovered along the New South Wales coastline.
In early February, a similar receptacle suspected of containing toxic chemicals caused abeach closure in Sydney.
Swimmers were ordered out of the water at Elouera Beach, Cronulla, when the mystery canister washed ashore.
Sgt Bidgood warned anyone who found such a canister on or near the shoreline to stay well clear and immediately notify police.
"People should not handle the item or place themselves in risk of inhaling the toxic gas," he said.
Interstate police have not confirmed the origin of the dumped canisters. Exactly how many remain adrift is also not known, with investigations being conducted by officers in the affected states.
The aluminium canisters are about 23cm high and 10cm in diameter. They have plastic lids with an O-ring seal.
Today's discovery was the first to be found on the Tasmanian coastline but police fear there could be more.
The Tasmania Fire Service and the local council have secured the canister for safe future disposal.
Anyone who spots a suspect canister should phone police on 131 444.
BIG BIRDING NEWS!
Ian May observed a Freckled Duck on the Stieglitz Sewerage Ponds this afternoon (3.30pm) Wednesday 17th April 2013. I joined Ian and his wife Pat at approximately 4.15pm. The duck was then roosting on the western side of the main pond.
Ian May observed a Freckled Duck on the Stieglitz Sewerage Ponds this afternoon (3.30pm) Wednesday 17th April 2013. I joined Ian and his wife Pat at approximately 4.15pm. The duck was then roosting on the western side of the main pond.
Here is Ian's posting from Birding-aus.
"Today at about 1530 Pat and I observed a Freckled Duck at the Stieglitz sewerage pond about 5 km south east of St Helens, Tasmania.
The duck was observed flying over the pond before landing on the water where it moved among various groups of other waterfowl including Blue-winged
Shovellers, Coots, White-eyed Duck, Chestnut-breasted Shelduck, Grey Teal, Chestnut Teal and Black Duck before it eventually settled about 1/2 way
along on the western wall of the pond."
This is a great bird sighting. Congratulations to Ian.
The duck was observed flying over the pond before landing on the water where it moved among various groups of other waterfowl including Blue-winged
Shovellers, Coots, White-eyed Duck, Chestnut-breasted Shelduck, Grey Teal, Chestnut Teal and Black Duck before it eventually settled about 1/2 way
along on the western wall of the pond."
This is a great bird sighting. Congratulations to Ian.
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Liz and her Masters Research on the Lewin's rail.
BONE on social networking at Netas Nature (Facebook) and Bird Observers (Google+)
Article about Owls in the New York Times
A new video of some local birds on youtube
International bird forum
Tamar River Wetland Centre bird list from Feb 2013
Angela Carter's 'Nights at the Circus' whose main character, Fevvers, hatched from an egg
Fiction book from an Australian bird enthusiast, set in the Otways and Gondwana
Consider the Birds by Colin Tudge, available from the library amongst 75 other books and DVDs. I never knew that birds breathed differently from us and may have hatched from dinosaurs.
Book review about feathers, aspiration, and myth
Ornithology books, old and new
Ornithology bookstores
cheers
John
