Birds smaller due to warmer temps

A Swiss-U.S. study has found that over the last half century North American birds have become smaller by about 1.3% in mass. The fairly rapid evolution to a more compact size is concluded to be caused by climate change.
 

Wind turbines take lesson from schools of fish

Vertical-axis wind turbine technology is taking a cue from the movements of schools of fish, or even the drafting of bicycle racers. They are bunched together to improve the efficiency of the trailing wind turbines, while reducing impacts from migrating birds.
 

Robotic hummingbird being built by U.S. to spy

The Defense Sciences Office of DARPA is developing a robotic hummingbird it calls the Nano Air Vehicle that one day will provide indoor and outdoor reconnaissance and surveillance capabilities for the United States within urban environments. No, it is definitely not a bird-brain scheme!
 

Industrial chickens missing genes, according to pioneer study

An international team of researchers find that commercially raised chickens are missing over half of the genetic diversity that are still found in wild birds. Consequently, these factory birds can’t resist disease as well as their wild counterparts.
 

Flight savvy bird goes nonstop for new air record

A female bar-tailed godwit established a new nonstop, muscle-powered record when it flew from Alaska to New Zealand in eight days and over 7,000 miles. The smart bird didn’t have to lug around luggage, didn’t need a layover at an airport, and didn’t have to contend with crying babies and sick passengers.
 

Color My prehistoric World

According to a Yale University research study, color pigments from organic matter in a 100-million-year old fossilized feather may now give scientists the ability to know the real colors of now-extinct animals.