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☆ A team of US scientists is turning dead birds into drones to study flight techniques that may help the aviation industry
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-15 | by ( Katie Balevic | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Scientists in New Mexico are working to turn taxidermic birds into drones to study flight patterns. A research team in New Mexico is converting taxidermic birds into drones in order to study flight patterns, Reuters reported. Scientists hope to use them to study birds' formations and flight patterns, which can in turn be applied to the aviation industry, Hassanalian told Reuters. The taxidermic bird drones are currently being tested at the university in a customized cage, according to the outlet. "I actually did not know about the people of 'The birds aren't real,'" Hassanalian told Insider.

☆ New Jersey's environmental agency called itself out for destroying two endangered birds' protected habitats while creating one for another species
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-15 | by ( ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

New Jersey's environmental agency plans to punish itself for damaging land for endangered birds it was supposed to protect. The damage happened when the department was trying to create habitat for another bird species, the American woodcock. The work was designed to create habitat for one species of bird, but actually wound up destroying habitat for two others. Before the work was done, this land was considered suitable habitat for the barred owl, which is listed as a threatened species, and the red-shouldered hawk, an endangered species. The project also cleared and disturbed an additional 12 acres of land near wetlands known as transition areas, which also are protected.

☆ Bird Flu Keeps Raging. Some Say Vaccines Are Needed to Stop It.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( Nidhi Subbaraman | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The current bird-flu outbreak has felled 58 million farmed birds in the U.S.To stop the devastating global bird-flu outbreak that has killed over 100 million poultry, the U.S. and Europe are embracing a tactic many countries have long resisted: vaccines. The U.S. and parts of Europe don’t routinely inoculate poultry against bird flu, which emerges every few years and spreads and kills easily, but typically recedes after domestic birds are culled.

☆ Japan is running out of space to bury chickens killed over bird flu
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-06 | by ( Michelle Toh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong CNN —Japan has lost so many chickens to bird flu, it’s now running out of land to bury them. All 26 had reported experiencing avian flu outbreaks recently. Japan previously slaughtered nearly 9.9 million in fiscal 2020 over another bird flu crisis, its last record high. In Japan, egg prices reached a 10-year high of 235 yen ($1.8) last month, according to Rabobank. Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force personnel head to a chicken ranch to roll out preventive measures against avian flu in the city of Chitose, Hokkaido on March 28.

☆ Dogecoin's sharp rally fades after brief burst of enthusiasm around Twitter's new Shiba Inu logo
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-06 | by ( Morgan Chittum | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The rally came after Elon Musk's Twitter replaced its new homepage icon to a picture of a Shiba Inu, a nod to the joke token. When Insider reached out for comment, Twitter's press email auto-responded with a single poop emoji. The meme coin is trading at $0.086, after notching $0.1 earlier this week, the token's highest price since early February. Twitter owner Elon Musk, whose public comments regularly change the token's price, has been touting dogecoin for years. When Insider reached out for comment on the matter, Twitter's press email auto-responded with a single poop emoji.

☆ Paris vote rocks scooter rental firms’ shaky ride
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, April 3 (Reuters Breakingviews) - The business of renting out electric scooters is taking a turn for the worse. Turnout for the vote was low - only 7% of the population registered for it, and they were skewed towards older age groups, who tend not to ride such scooters anyway. The sector was already facing a tougher environment for raising capital and is struggling to turn a profit. The vote is also a potential red light for Lime, which is eyeing a listing. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

☆ Senegal reports outbreak of H5N1 bird flu on farm, WOAH says
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

PARIS, March 31 (Reuters) - Senegal has reported an outbreak of the highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu on a poultry farm in the northwestern part of the country, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) said on Friday. The outbreak occurred on March 18 on a farm located in the village of Potou near the town of Louga, not far from the Langue de Barbarie National Park where an H5N1 outbreak was diagnosed on March 12, the Paris-based WOAH said, citing Senegalese authorities. The outbreak killed 500 birds in the 11,400-strong flock, with the remaining animals culled, the WOAH said. Avian influenza, commonly called bird flu, has been spreading around the world in the past year, killing more than 200 million birds, sending egg prices rocketing and raising concern among governments about human transmission. Reporting by Sybille de La Hamaide; Editing by Hugh Lawson, Kirsten DonovanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Chile culls 40,000 poultry amid industrial bird flu outbreak
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Ivan AlvaradoRANCAGUA, Chile, March 15 (Reuters) - Around 40,000 poultry were culled and buried in central Chile on Wednesday after the country detected its first case of bird flu in an industrial setting. "We hope to have this situation contained and that Chile regains its status of being free of highly pathogenic bird flu," he added. Cases of bird flu, mostly in wild animals, have been detected in Chile since late last year. Brazil, the world's largest chicken exporter, still remains free of bird flu but has investigated several suspected cases. South American health authorities created a regional technical committee earlier this month to deal with bird flu outbreaks.

☆ Southwest Airlines plane makes emergency landing in Havana after cabin fills with smoke
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

HAVANA, March 5 (Reuters) - A Southwest Airlines plane bound for Fort Lauderdale from Havana was forced to return to Cuba's Jose Marti Airport Sunday after an engine reportedly caught fire following a bird strike, according to passenger cell phone video and media reports. NBC 6 News in Florida reported a Southwest Airlines spokesperson had confirmed the incident. Cell phone footage showed smoke filling the cabin as panicked parents appeared to explain to their children how to fit oxygen masks. Emergency lighting inside the plane was lit and footage showed customers evacuating the jet via emergency slides on the runway at Cuba's largest airport as firemen and trucks looked on. The news report said there had been no serious injuries and that all passengers were safely on the ground in Havana.

☆ Estonia reported bird flu outbreak on poultry farm, WOAH says
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

PARIS, March 3 (Reuters) - Estonia has reported an outbreak of the highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu virus on a farm in the northern part of the country, the Paris-based World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) said on Friday. The poultry farm, located in the village of Urge in the Rapla County, had 161 birds, including laying hens, ducks, geese, pigeons and peacocks, WOAH said, citing Estonian authorities. On Feb. 15, one laying hen suddenly died and was sent to the laboratory. The World Health Organization described the situation as "worrying" after two confirmed human cases of H5N1 bird flu were found among one family in Cambodia. Argentina this week suspended its poultry exports after a first industrial case of bird flu was confirmed.

☆ Scientists studied flamingo personalities and discovered the pink birds form cliques like high schoolers
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( Adam Barnes | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

More submissive birds hung out with each other whereas louder, outgoing birds had their own groups. Understanding flamingo social structure could help zoo keepers when moving birds between zoos. Why flamingos form cliquesFlamingos form long-lasting friendships that can last for years. How understanding Flamingos' social behavior could help zoosThe new research could help inform zoo keepers and keep flamingos happier. Zookeepers could help flamingos' social lives by keeping friends together.

☆ Bird flu situation 'worrying'; WHO working with Cambodia
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-24 | by ( Jennifer Rigby | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

LONDON, Feb 24 (Reuters) - The World Health Organization is working with Cambodian authorities after two confirmed human cases of H5N1 bird flu were found among one family in the country. The U.N. health agency last assessed the risk to humans from avian flu as low earlier this month. "The global H5N1 situation is worrying given the wide spread of the virus in birds around the world and the increasing reports of cases in mammals including humans," Briand said. WHO-affiliated labs already hold two flu virus strains that are closely related to the circulating H5N1 virus that manufacturers can use to develop new shots if needed. A global meeting of flu experts this week suggested developing another strain that more closely matches H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b, Webby said in the briefing.

☆ Analysis: Why public health officials are not panicked about bird flu
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( Julie Steenhuysen | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

They say the attributes that have made this virus thrive in wild birds likely make it less infectious to people. Although the exact changes required for a bird flu virus to become easily transmissible in people are not known, a pair of landmark studies done a decade ago offer some clues. Mink have both avian and human-type receptors, but avian receptors are scarce in humans and located deep in the lungs. That change is a must if a bird flu virus is to spread easily in people. None of the experts discounted the possibility that H5N1 or another avian flu virus could mutate and spark a pandemic, and many believe the world has not seen its last flu pandemic.

☆ Costco's new roast beef sandwich costs as much as 6 of the retailer's hot dogs
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( Nancy Luna | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Costco's food court is known for cheap fast-food staples such as $1.50 all-beef hot dogs. But some are balking at the price of the $9.99 roast beef sandwich. Many hard-core warehouse fans complained it was too expensive for Costco's food court, known for cheap fast-food staples such as $1.50 all-beef hot dogs and $10 whole pizzas. It is made with sliced roast beef, onion relish, a mayonnaise and mustard blend, lettuce, and roasted cherry tomatoes and served on a hoagie-style roll. When asked about the status of the roast beef sandwich, a food court worker answering the phone at the Lynnwood warehouse said 29 were left.

☆ Bird flu alarm drives world towards once-shunned vaccines
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-17 | by ( Sybille De La Hamaide | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

"That's why every country in the world is worried about bird flu," French agriculture minister Marc Fesneau said. But the fear of trade restrictions remains centre stage for countries reluctant to vaccinate poultry against bird flu. Bird flu can also mutate rapidly and reduce the efficacy of vaccines while programmes are costly and time consuming, as shots often need to be administered individually. Ceva said it was using the mRNA technology used in some COVID shots for the first time in poultry vaccines. The global market for bird flu vaccines would be about 800 million to 1 billion doses per year, excluding China, said Sylvain Comte, corporate marketing director for poultry at Ceva.

☆ Bird flu spreads to new countries, threatens non-stop 'war' on poultry
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( Tom Polansek | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

Argentina found the virus in wild birds, while dead swans in Uruguay tested positive. The United States, Britain, France and Japan are among countries that have suffered record losses of poultry over the past year, leaving some farmers feeling helpless. Poultry in the Northern Hemisphere were previously considered to be most at risk when wild birds are active during spring migration. Some experts suspect climate change may be contributing to the global spread by altering wild birds' habitats and migratory paths. Farmers are trying unusual tactics to protect poultry, with some using machines that make loud noises to scare off wild birds, experts said.

☆ Explainer: What are the bird flu risks to people and animals?
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( Tom Polansek | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

WHICH COUNTRIES HAVE BIRD FLU? Bird flu spreads to new countries, threatens non-stop "war" on poultryWHAT BIRDS CAN BE INFECTED? Mammals including bears, seals, foxes and skunks have been infected with H5N1 avian flu, authorities said. If one bird in a flock has avian flu, farmers usually cull all their birds to prevent the spread of the highly contagious virus. Additionally, avian flu is not transmissible by eating properly cooked poultry and eggs, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said.

☆ Bird flu spreads to new countries, threatens non-stop "war" on poultry
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( Tom Polansek | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

The United States, Britain, France and Japan are among countries that have suffered record losses of poultry over the past year, leaving some farmers feeling helpless. Poultry in the Northern Hemisphere were previously considered to be most at risk when wild birds are active during spring migration. Some experts suspect climate change may be contributing to the global spread by altering wild birds' habitats and migratory paths. Farmers are trying unusual tactics to protect poultry, with some using machines that make loud noises to scare off wild birds, experts said. Berkowitz said he is bracing for March and April when migration season will pose an even greater risk to poultry.

☆ Explainer: Bird flu: what are the risks to people and animals?
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( Tom Polansek | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

WHICH COUNTRIES HAVE BIRD FLU? Wild birds including waterfowl like ducks can carry bird flu viruses without appearing sick and easily spread them to domesticated poultry like chickens and turkeys, experts said. Mammals including bears, seals, foxes and skunks have been infected with H5N1 avian flu, authorities said. If one bird in a flock has avian flu, farmers usually cull all their birds to prevent the spread of the highly contagious virus. Additionally, avian flu is not transmissible by eating properly cooked poultry and eggs, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said.

☆ Billion-dollar startup plans to bring the dodo back from the dead, and claims it can also revive the woolly mammoth
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( Marianne Guenot | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Colossal Biosciences, a biotech company, says it will aim to revive the dodo using gene editing. This is the latest attempt to revive extinct animals in the face of the biodiversity crisis. The bird is the latest in the collection of long-gone animals scientists at the company want to revive. The startup has previously said it plan to recreate the Tasmanian wolf and the woolly mammoth. A stuffed dodo bird at the Natural History Museum on February 5, 2013, in London, England.

☆ British actor Julian Sands reported missing in California mountains
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] The 76th Venice Film Festival - Screening of the film "The Painted Bird" in competition - Venice, Italy September 3, 2019 - Actor Julian Sands poses before an interview. REUTERS/Piroschka van de WouwLOS ANGELES, Jan 18 (Reuters) - British-born film actor Julian Sands, known for his starring roles in such films as "A Room with a View" and "Warlock," has gone missing in the mountains of Southern California, media outlets reported on Wednesday, citing local authorities. The Baldy Bowl, about 50 miles northeast of Los Angeles just below the Mount Baldy ski area, is a popular destination for skiers, climbers and hikers. Sands' Los Angeles-based representative could not immediately be reached for comment. Reporting by Steve Gorman in Los Angeles; Editing by Neil FullickOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

More than 40 million egg-laying hens have been culled in the U.S. alone, causing the price of eggs nationwide to skyrocket, Lorenzoni said. Months earlier, the “bird flu” outbreak drove the cost of turkey meat to record highs. Poultry can become infected through direct exposure to wild birds but more likely from fecal matter that contaminates the ground around farms or yards. Many migrating birds are not sickened by bird flu, which means it’s not well understood just how widespread it is in the wild, Lorenzoni added. The sun can, for instance, naturally disinfect surfaces while gloomier days help viral particles survive on surfaces contaminated by infected bird poop, Lorenzoni said.

In a statement Tuesday, the agriculture ministry said 9.98 million animals had been killed this season, surpassing a previous record of 9.87 million that were slaughtered in fiscal 2020, during a previous bird flu crisis. The National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations, known as Zen-Noh, gave a higher tally, saying approximately 10.9 million birds had been killed as of Tuesday night. “The market price is expected to soar.”The spread of bird flu has already pushed up egg costs around the world in recent months. In Japan, wholesale prices for eggs reached a record high last month as shipments dropped, according to public broadcaster NHK. Avian flu is caused by infections that occur naturally among wild aquatic birds, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

☆ Bang Bang Chicken: A gun-stuffed bird was among the weirdest items found by airport security teams in 2022. See the full list.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-06 | by ( Beatrice Nolan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The TSA released its "top 10 catches" list, consisting of unusual items found at airports in 2022. Cash stashed in crutchesSoiled money hidden inside a pair of crutches was discovered by agents at El Paso International Airport in Texas. An inert grenadeA grenade was found after a passenger attempted to get it through airport security in a carry-on at General Mitchell International Airport in Wisconsin. A gun hidden in an arm slingAgents discovered a gun concealed in a man's arm sling at Greater Rochester International Airport. A gun stuffed in a raw chickenA handgun was discovered stuffed inside a raw chicken at Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport.

☆ Bird flu situation is worsening in France, ministry says
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

PARIS, Dec 21 (Reuters) - The spread of bird flu has accelerated in the past weeks in France, the European Union's second largest poultry producer, the farm ministry said on Wednesday, raising concern of further shortages. France had already detected a rise in bird flu outbreaks over the summer after seeing its worst wave of the disease last season that lead to the culling of about 20 million chickens, ducks and turkeys and a sharp fall in poultry and foie gras output. By Dec. 20, 217 bird flu outbreaks had been detected on French farms, up from 100 on Dec. 2, and the number of cases has also risen sharply in wildlife, the ministry said. Bird flu has been spreading globally, ravaging flocks, with the toll at more than 100 million birds in Europe and the United States alone. France had put the country on "high" alert for bird flu last month forcing poultry farms to keep birds indoors.

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