Eavesdropping Squirrels
Eastern gray squirrels listen in to birds’ conversations for cues about nearby predator risk, according to a new study from Oberlin College. Researchers found that hearing casual bird chatter after a predator call signals safety to squirrels.
Read more on my Animal Minds blog: Squirrels Eavesdrop on Bird Chatter as Sign of Safety.
Jammin' Bats to Keep Them Safe
Wind turbines are a valuable source of renewable energy, but they’reeco-unfriendly in one particular way: the giant spinning bladesfrequently kill birds and bats.
A new system that jams bats’ echolocation with ultrasound is showing promise in reducing fatalities at wind energy facilities. Researchers at Texas State University, in partnership with Bat Conservation International (BCI), found that the ultrasonic Bat Deterrent System developed by NRG Systems reduced overall bat fatalities at the Los Vientos Wind Energy Facility in Starr county, Texas, by 54 percent.
Read the whole story, my first for Mongabay: Jammin' at Wind Farms May Help Save Bats.
