Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Post

Access issues for the conservation of woodland birds - private versus public access? PUBLIC ACCESS VERSUS NO ACCESS - An Audio dot com Tony Powell (naturestimeline) production. Please put aside 90 seconds to listen to my opinion piece on two of these most important issues: public access and woodland management. What happens when either is lacking? Click on the URL and select the grey circle with the white triangle within it on the left-hand side of your viewing device. You do not need an account to play the soundtrack. https://lnkd.in/erdvmugn Best wishes Tony Powell PS! A brief snapshot of the avian communities in the woodland in the soundtrack (not the one pictured) contained 38 Blackcaps, 21 Chiffchaffs, and 4 Firecrests, to name but some species. #woodlands #woodlandmanagement #birds #birders #monitoringandevaluation #rant #opinions

Meet Commando, a decorated war hero pigeon awarded the Dickin Medal for bravery during World War II, completing an astonishing 90+ missions (1). Pigeons, our enduring urban companions for centuries, have transitioned from innocent birds to misunderstood outcasts in recent decades. 🐦💔 Despite their historical significance, pigeons face unwarranted disdain. The early 19th-century New York Times articles empathised with pigeons, condemning pigeon shooting. However, a shift occurred, casting them as nuisances in the 1930s and 1940s, leading to a framing in the 1960s as menacing vermin to be exterminated. Contrary to stereotypes, pigeons, like all animals, make noise, poop, and can carry diseases. Despite reports linking pigeon diseases to human deaths, health authorities, including the New York Department of Health and the CDC, couldn't verify any cases of people falling ill from casual contact with pigeons (2). The societal hatred towards pigeons serves as a symptom of the perception that our constructed environments should be entirely separate from the natural world. This aversion challenges our 'imaginative geography'—the belief that urban spaces should be free from 'wild' elements. In a global pursuit of cohabitation between humans and wildlife, let's transcend outdated prejudices, objectively appreciate the diverse inhabitants of our cities, and collectively work towards a future where all species, including pigeons, are intrinsically valued. 🐦💚 #pigeon #pigeons #verifyhumanity #dickinmedal #environment #appreciate #appreciation #animals #birds #urbanspaces #cohabitation #humananimalconflict #speciesism #loveanimals #worldwar2 Reference: https://lnkd.in/d8Qb7u2 Hurley S, Eden J, Bingham J, et al. Fatal Human Neurologic Infection Caused by Pigeon Avian Paramyxovirus-1, Australia. Emerging Infectious Diseases. 2023;29(12):2482-2487. doi:10.3201/eid2912.230250.

Masters of the Hunt: Unveiling the Power of Birds of Prey 🦉 🦅 Birds of prey, also known as raptors, are nature's elite hunters. These incredible birds possess a unique set of adaptations that make them dominate the skies and control entire ecosystems. Their bodies are a marvel of evolutionary design. Sharp, hooked beaks serve as both weapons and tools, tearing flesh and meticulously plucking feathers. Their powerful talons, like living daggers, can clamp down on prey with immense force. Some species have eyes that are many times sharper than human vision. Unlike most birds with downy feathers that generate noise during flight, raptors have specially adapted feathers with modified barbs that muffle sound. Birds of prey play a critical role in maintaining healthy ecosystems. By keeping populations of rodents, insects, and other small animals in check, they prevent these creatures from overgrazing vegetation or spreading disease. #birdsofprey #wildlifeconservation #birds

Learn about the unique adaptations of Antarctica's plants and animals to survive in extreme conditions. From rapid life cycles to specialized feeding habits, these species thrive where few others can. #Adaptations #Wildlife #Antarctica

𝐈𝐧 𝐚 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐞𝐝, 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐰𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞? Often seen as symbols of power and grace, leopards are facing a critical threat: extinction. These magnificent creatures, known for their stealth and adaptability, are struggling to survive in a world increasingly encroached by human activity. There are several subspecies of leopards, each with its own unique challenges. From the Amur leopard battling harsh Siberian winters to the African leopard facing habitat loss, these big cats are fighting for their existence. Human activities such as deforestation, poaching, and habitat fragmentation have pushed many leopard populations to the brink. It's crucial to recognise the importance of conservation efforts and support initiatives aimed at protecting these animals. By raising awareness and taking action, we can help ensure that future generations will have the opportunity to witness the beauty and wonder of leopards in the wild. #Leopards #WildLife #EndangeredSpecies

Good to see this example of a responsible, fact-based way of dealing with an issue that has been the subject of well-funded disinformation and misinformation campaigns.

Responsible business that respects the Ocean and marine life.

𝐈𝐧 𝐚 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐞𝐝, 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐰𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞? Often seen as symbols of power and grace, leopards are facing a critical threat: extinction. These magnificent creatures, known for their stealth and adaptability, are struggling to survive in a world increasingly encroached by human activity. There are several subspecies of leopards, each with its own unique challenges. From the Amur leopard battling harsh Siberian winters to the African leopard facing habitat loss, these big cats are fighting for their existence. Human activities such as deforestation, poaching, and habitat fragmentation have pushed many leopard populations to the brink. It's crucial to recognise the importance of conservation efforts and support initiatives aimed at protecting these animals. By raising awareness and taking action, we can help ensure that future generations will have the opportunity to witness the beauty and wonder of leopards in the wild. #Leopards #WildLife #EndangeredSpecies 

I love seeing an RPS Protected Species Observer featured! And this is such a great photo, one taken during the Vineyard Wind installation, with so many things to appreciate happening here: the look of concentration, full PPE, all the equipment on hand... Magic! #protectedspeciesobservers #onwatch #offshorewind #rpsenergy #tetratech

It's the news none of us wanted to hear. 144 animals, plants and ecological communities were added to Australia's threatened list in 2023. While it reflects the federal government's efforts to work through an enormous backlog, it's a sober reminder of the work needed to bring our precious native species back from the brink. Globally, invasive species have played a role in 60% of plant and animal extinctions. In Australia, many of our endangered species are highly threatened by invasive plants, animals and pathogens. Recently, we explored the story of one of Australia's rarest fish — the Kosciuszko galaxias and the invasive predators that would eat every single one of them. More than a dozen other galaxias species were also listed as endangered or critically endangered last year -- all threatened by predatory invasive trout. https://lnkd.in/gfV5he7Z