Lund researchers track nightingale's Sahara crossing

April 22, 2026

由 AI 报道

A nightingale weighing just 25 grams builds energy reserves to cross the Sahara. Lund researchers used miniature sensors to track ten birds on their migration from Sweden to southeastern Africa.

Researchers at Lund University used new miniature sensor technology to study how nightingales manage their long migration over the Mediterranean and Sahara.

The birds brighten Swedish summers but spend winters mainly in southeastern Africa. They fly intensely for four to five nights straight, resting completely during the day.

In the desert, they cannot refuel and survive on reserves built up beforehand, said biology professor Anders Hedenström.

"These birds don't take chances. Their whole strategy is based on having charged enough energy before starting the most inhospitable parts of the journey," Hedenström said in a press release.

New study shows moonlight controls red-necked nightjar's behavior

A new study from Lund University shows that moonlight is crucial for the migratory bird, the red-necked nightjar. The bird's feeding, migration, and breeding are entirely governed by the moon's cycle. Researchers highlight the vulnerability of nocturnal animals to changes in light environments.

Scottish wrens evolving into new species on islands

May 28, 2026 由 AI 报道

Tiny wrens on remote Scottish islands are growing much larger than their mainland relatives and developing distinct traits that may lead to new species.

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Study debunks myth of indigenous overhunting in Hawaii

Researchers at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa have found no evidence that Indigenous Hawaiians hunted native waterbirds to extinction, challenging a 50-year-old belief. The study, published in Ecosphere, attributes declines to climate change, invasive species, and land-use shifts. It highlights the role of traditional stewardship in bird conservation.

Blue tit disease surges in Dalarna amid nationwide outbreak

April 20, 2026 由 AI 报道

Following early warnings of a rising blue tit disease outbreak across Sweden, the State Veterinary Institute (SVA) now highlights a sharp increase in cases among blue tits in Dalarna. Birdwatchers are urged to report sick birds, with two confirmed reports in the county by April 17.

欧洲