Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

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NationCymru @nation.cymru · 10h

A specialist detection dog from Wrexham who had been rejected by five previous owners has been recognised for taking part in groundbreaking conservation work to help protect persecuted birds of prey

From ‘lost soul’ to lifesaver: Rescued spaniel from Wrexham wins award for protecting UK wildlife

A specialist detection dog from Wrexham who had been rejected by five previous owners has been recognised for taking part in groundbreaking conservation work to help protect persecuted birds of prey. ...

nation.cymru

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Ben Goldfarb @bengoldfarb.bsky.social · Jul 14

Pretty much.

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Erik Stokstad @erikstokstad.bsky.social · 1d

Yo-ho-ho and many, many bottles of rum.

www.science.org/content/arti...

DNA from rum-soaked fishes chronicles century of environmental change

Museum specimens collected during a 1907 marine expedition reveal loss of genetic diversity in the Philippines

www.science.org

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Convention on Wetlands @ramsar.org · 1d

The new operational phase of the Global Partnership on Ecological Connectivity was officially launched at the #IUCNCongress. The Secretary General attended the event. GPEC is a multistakeholder collaborative initiative aiming to facilitate actions needed to restore ecological connectivity. @cms.int

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William (Bill) Sutherland @billsutherland.bsky.social · 1d

How one species, the noisy miner, massively changes bird communities in Australia youtu.be/HtYDS27vLXM?...

One bird reshapes an ecosystem: the noisy miner

YouTube video by Bill Sutherland's Conservation Concepts

youtu.be

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Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) @cms.int · 2d

📢 OUT TODAY! 🚨

CMS published the most comprehensive global dugong assessment in 20+ years. Dugongs are vulnerable to extinction worldwide, some populations critically endangered. 🌊

We must map & protect seagrass, cut bycatch, restore habitats, and roll out action plans: www.cms.int/news/global-...

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RSPB @rspb.bsky.social · 3d

On World Migratory Bird Day, today’s #AutumnArrivalSpotlight is the Grey Plover! 🤩

These impressive fliers migrate from the Arctic, capable of non-stop flights of 6,500 km to reach UK coastlines.

Some stay for winter while others continue their journey to western Africa.

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Steffen Oppel @steffopp.bsky.social · 4d

NEW JOB in #ornithology with @RSPBScience to oversee research in #Wales with #seabirds and #waders: buff.ly/qkTVU6m

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Graham Appleton @wadertales.bsky.social · 3d

Yesterday, IUCN declared the Slender-billed Curlew to be extinct.
How did we let this happen?
What lessons are there for the future?
WaderTales blog based on paper by Graeme Buchanan et al
wadertales.wordpress.com/2024/12/12/l...
#extinction #ornithology

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International Wader Study Group @waderstudy.bsky.social · 3d

Today IUCN has officially declared the Slender-billed Curlew extinct, marking the first known global extinction of a formerly widespread migratory bird species whose range included mainland Europe, North Africa, and West Asia.

Read more here ⬇️
www.unep-aewa.org/fr/node/6632

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Curlew Action @curlewaction.bsky.social · 4d

Today (date), the Slender-billed Curlew was declared extinct. The first bird extinction on mainland Europe in 500 years — on our watch. Extinction is final. No going back. Think about that.

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Dr. Aaron Thierry @thierryaaron.bsky.social · 5d

"Scientists warn that if current trends in sea level rise continue, more than 45% of the Delta could be submerged within decades, displacing millions and jeopardising Vietnam’s food security"

#Vietnam 🇻🇳
#ClimateEmergency

The Mekong Delta’s climate defences are failing

Infrastructure projects to keep out seawater have been plagued by failures. Experts say Vietnam must shift from hard fixes to nature-based solutions

dialogue.earth

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Global Flyway Network @globalflyway.bsky.social · 4d

Stidsholt et al. monitored greater noctule bats in flight. These bats track migrating birds using echolocation and consume them on the wing. As efficient aerial predators they apparently evolved to feed on small migratory birds during long-distance flights.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Greater noctule bats prey on and consume passerines in flight

Despite billions of passerines seasonally migrating during the night at high altitudes, only three bat species have been found to consistently tap into this rich prey resource. However, it remains unk...

www.science.org

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RSPB Science @rspbscience.bsky.social · 4d

As part of the 2024 waders update, 16 other migratory waterbirds had their red list status uplisted

The decline in so many wader and shorebird species is deeply concerning and shows the urgent need for more effective conservation action across the flyway

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RSPB Science @rspbscience.bsky.social · 4d

The loss of this species is a stark reminder of the threats our own Eurasian Curlew faces

With the UK hosting 25% of the breeding population, it is vital that we continue to protect breeding and non-breeding sites from development and lobby for nature-friendly farming

A ringed Eurasian Curlew picks its way through short brown grass towards the camera.

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RSPB Science @rspbscience.bsky.social · 4d

Slender-billed Curlew declared officially extinct by ICUN

This marks the first known global bird extinction from mainland Europe, North Africa and West Asia 🌍

Read on for a summary or check out the research which led to the decision here:
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

Global extinction of Slender‐billed Curlew (Numenius tenuirostris)

In the current biodiversity crisis, conservation efforts are often focused on extinction prevention. However, it can be difficult to determine if a species is extinct, especially if the species has…

onlinelibrary.wiley.com

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BirdLife International @birdlifeglobal.bsky.social · 4d

🚨2025 #RedList Update🚨

We have reassessed 1,360 bird species. Out of the 11,185 species assessed worldwide: 

⚠️11.5% are globally threatened.

📉61% have declining populations.

But restoring habitats will help put these species on a path to recovery.🌱

Read more👉 www.birdlife.org/red-list-upd...

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Dr Alex Bond @thelabandfield.bsky.social · 4d

It's also not "just another" extinction, it's the first from mainland Europe in centuries. CENTURIES.

And there will be others within our lifetime.

That's biodiversity loss.

We'll never hear this sound, ever again xeno-canto.org/398794

XC398794 Slender-billed Curlew (Numenius tenuirostris)

Awful wind noise in the original! See sonogram and notes of the recording circumstances on p12 of Gretton A. (1991) The ecology and conservation of the Slender-billed Curlew (Numenius tenuirostris). ...

xeno-canto.org

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Dr Alex Bond @thelabandfield.bsky.social · 4d

Well, it's official. After our paper last year (onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....), the Slender-billed Curlew is officially declared Extinct today.

Scientists dream of describing new species, not writing their obituary and epitaph, knowing that they are gone forever #ornithology

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Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) @cms.int · 4d

Today, IUCN officially declared the Slender-billed Curlew extinct, marking the first known global extinction of a formerly widespread migratory bird species whose range included mainland Europe, North Africa, and West Asia.

Read our and AEWA's full statement: www.cms.int/news/slender...

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Andy J. Green @drandygreen.bsky.social · 5d

The importance of waders for seed dispersal in a rapidly changing world. Short "Perspective"article by Green & Lovas-Kiss #ornithology #waders #shorebirds #OpenAccess @ebdonana.bsky.social @waderstudy.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social @seobirdlife.bsky.social
www.waderstudygroup.org/article/19803/

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Peter Frankopan @peterfrankopan.bsky.social · 5d

Belarus rarely makes Western headlines — but it should this week.
A quiet move by the Trump administration has just handed Alexander Lukashenka, and indirectly Vladimir Putin, an unexpected gift.
🧵👇

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David Roberts @volts.wtf · 5d

A new Nature study on the four horsemen of the climate-tipping-points apocalypse: "the Greenland Ice Sheet, the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, the South American monsoon system and the Amazon rainforest."

Destabilization of Earth system tipping elements - Nature Geoscience

A review of observation-based evidence suggests that four interconnected Earth system tipping elements have moved towards their critical thresholds, highlighting the need for better monitoring and increased mitigation efforts.

www.nature.com

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Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) @cms.int · 6d

Raptors are vital to healthy ecosystems, yet many are declining. 🦅

Attending #IUCNcongress? Join us to explore the ecological & socioeconomic importance of vultures and sooty falcons, and how coordinated action translates research and policy into practical conservation: www.cms.int/sites/defaul...

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Kyle Horton @kyle-horton.bsky.social · 6d

Another massive movement of migratory birds underway tonight — nearly 1 Billion Birds! With the full moon, you might be able to see some silhouettes zipping by. You can make your own flow maps here (just hit record): aeroecolab.com/uslights

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