Author: OMN AI

Severe winter flooding on the Somerset Levels has reshaped the fortunes of local birdlife.The waterlogged fields have attracted large flocks of gulls searching for food.Scarcer Mediterranean gull and Little gull have joined black-headed, herring and common gulls.The gatherings have even drawn a White‑tailed eagle from the Isle of Wight reintroduction programme. Flooding has forced Lapwing into shallower areas because deep water prevents them from feeding.Their movement has made them more visible across the landscape. For Barn owl, however, the conditions are harsh.Waterlogged ground drives away voles and other rodents that form their main prey.Their non-waterproof feathers also make hunting in…

Creating Safe Havens Across Expansive Landscapes Protecting Africa’s vulture populations is no small task. These slow-breeding scavengers travel over enormous distances and are highly susceptible to threats like poisoned carcasses aimed at other wildlife and hazards from expanding infrastructure such as power lines. In response, conservationists have introduced “vulture safe zones” — designated areas meant to shield these birds from the most severe risks. However, turning these zones into fully effective sanctuaries remains a major challenge. South Africa’s Tswalu Kalahari Reserve, established in 2019 on land owned by the Oppenheimer family, is the continent’s oldest vulture safe zone. Spanning over…

Plastic bottles and debris that likely originated in Canada and date back to the 1960s and 1970s have washed up on a beach in Orkney. Litter pickers say the amount of plastic on the shoreline at Howar Sands in Sanday has overwhelmed them in recent weeks. David Warner, who organises beach clean-ups, collected 42 plastic bottles last year. He has already found hundreds this year. Experts blame unusual weather conditions, including strong south-easterly winds, for the surge in retro rubbish. Warner, 35, said some bottles appeared to come from Newfoundland and Labrador in Canada. He worries that even more debris…

Top Alpine skiers have raised alarm over the accelerating loss of glaciers during the Winter Olympics in Cortina.Lindsey Vonn and Mikaela Shiffrin said many training glaciers from their youth have nearly disappeared.Host nation Italy has lost more than 200 square kilometres of glacier area since the late 1950s. Athletes rely on glaciers for reliable early-season snow.Shrinking ice now threatens training schedules and the future of the sport.Shiffrin said skiers have a front-row view of climate change on the mountains. Glaciologists report a continuous and accelerating decline in ice volume.Glaciers near Cortina have shrunk by about one-third in recent decades.The Marmolada…

Safeguarding a Seabird Paradise New Island in the Falklands is set for a brighter future after securing £3 million in Darwin Plus funding. The island is a vital wildlife haven, hosting millions of seabirds, including the world’s largest colony of Slender-billed Prions. It also supports breeding populations of three penguin species and the Black-browed Albatross. Managed by the charity Falklands Conservation, the island serves as both a wildlife reserve and a scientific research centre, playing a crucial role in preserving the region’s biodiversity. Tackling Invasive Threats Despite its importance, New Island faces serious threats from four invasive species—feral cats, black…

San Diego County has officially honored Black History Month in schools, with the Board of Education passing a resolution recognizing the contributions of Black educators, students, and communities. The resolution also emphasizes support for student achievement throughout the county. Officials said the recognition highlights the importance of celebrating cultural diversity and history within public education. It encourages schools to integrate Black history and contributions into classroom learning and school programs. The resolution supports activities that engage students in learning about Black history, achievements, and culture. Schools are encouraged to host assemblies, projects, and educational programs that promote awareness and appreciation.…

Iceland experienced its hottest year on record in 2025, yet scientists warn northern Europe could face a severe cold shock. Researchers express concern over a major Atlantic ocean current that could collapse, potentially plunging the region into a new Ice Age. According to the Icelandic Met Office, the national average temperature reached 5.2°C, 1.1°C higher than the 1991-2020 average. This marks the warmest year since Iceland began keeping records. Almost every month registered “well above average” temperatures, with spring standing out. A ten-day heatwave in mid-May pushed temperatures to 26.6°C at Egilsstaðir Airport. Annual rainfall remained below the ten-year average…

Humans as Threats or Passersby Humans are often called the planet’s ultimate “super-predator,” capable of hunting, fishing, and trapping on a scale unmatched by any other species. But a new study from the Centre for Ecological Sciences (CES) at Indian Institute of Science reveals that wildlife doesn’t always see us as terrifying. Animals respond strongly to humans who pose a direct threat, like hunters and fishers, but they react far less consistently to tourists, researchers, or others who aren’t dangerous. Behavioural Changes Under Threat The researchers conducted a meta-analysis covering 30 years of studies across different species and ecosystems, focusing…

Gentoo penguin have become the first birds in an Australian territory to test positive for the H5N1 strain of bird flu.Scientists confirmed the cases on Heard Island after new field samples. The virus had already been detected there in Southern elephant seal in November 2025.Further testing has now found infections in fur seals and penguins.Experts say the jump to bird species is a worrying escalation. Heard Island lies about 4,000km south-west of Perth in the sub-Antarctic.The outbreak forms part of a wider spread that has killed millions of birds worldwide.The disease reached Antarctica in the 2023-24 season and has moved…

Defenceless penguins face mass killings as pumas recover in Monte Leon National Park in Patagonia, Argentina. After cattle ranching ended in the 1990s, pumas recolonised parts of their historic range. Meanwhile, Magellanic penguins expanded from nearby islands to the mainland, where land predators had been absent. Scientists now warn this interaction has created a “conservation dilemma” that could reduce penguin populations. A new study by Oxford University quantifies the long-term risks for these birds. Pumas emerge as penguins’ greatest predator Researchers from the Centro de Investigaciones de Puerto Deseado at the Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia Austral worked with park…