Roughly 4,000 Vaux's swifts descended on a Salem, Oregon church at dusk, swirling above the steeple and plunging into its chimney in a display that had social-media viewers half-joking about the apocalypse. The birds funneled into the brick chimney of Salem First United Methodist Church on September 6, forming what onlookers described as a living […] The post Four thousand swifts spiral into an Oregon church chimney in annual migration spectacle appeared first on American Almanac .
Roughly 4,000 Vaux's swifts descended on a Salem, Oregon church at dusk, swirling above the steeple and plunging into its chimney in a display that had social-media viewers half-joking about the apocalypse. The birds funneled into the brick chimney of Salem First United Methodist Church on September 6, forming what onlookers described as a living cyclone above the building before vanishing inside, one wave after another, to roost for the night. Willamette University professor David P Craig captured the spectacle on video and shared it on Instagram , where the footage quickly spread. The event is part of a well-documented annual pattern. Vaux's swifts, tiny birds measuring no more than five inches long and weighing just over half an…Open
A pod of young killer whales tore away half the rudder of a racing sailboat off Spain in an eight-minute assault, the latest in a pattern of orca-on-vessel encounters that has rattled mariners since 2020. The Seika Racing crew had just finished a regatta near San Vicente, Spain, and were motoring their boat to another […] The post Orcas rip rudder off sailboat in eight-minute encounter off the Spanish coast appeared first on American Almanac .
A pod of young killer whales tore away half the rudder of a racing sailboat off Spain in an eight-minute assault, the latest in a pattern of orca-on-vessel encounters that has rattled mariners since 2020. The Seika Racing crew had just finished a regatta near San Vicente, Spain, and were motoring their boat to another marina when three to four orcas closed in on the stern. For roughly eight minutes the animals circled beneath the hull, repeatedly striking the rudder until they broke away approximately half of it. Crew member Gage Butler, a California native, captured the encounter on video and posted it on Instagram along with his account of what happened. Nobody aboard was hurt. The crew inspected the hull for leaks and found no major…Open
Koalas are one of Australia’s most recognizable marsupials, known for their eucalyptus-heavy diet and sleepy nature. From spending most of the day asleep to being surprisingly picky eaters, koalas have some fascinating habits. LiveNOW’s Anna Marsick speaks with koala keeper Emily Brown live from Moonlit Sanctuary in Australia to learn more about these unique animals and what makes their lifestyle so interesting.
Tens of thousands of male tarantulas are leaving their underground burrows right now to search for mates across the American South and Southwest, a brief, driven journey most will not survive. The annual migration is already underway from Arizona to Arkansas, with roughly 30 species of tarantula active across 15 states between late August and […] The post Tarantula mating season sends males on a one-way march across 15 states appeared first on American Almanac .
Tens of thousands of male tarantulas are leaving their underground burrows right now to search for mates across the American South and Southwest, a brief, driven journey most will not survive. The annual migration is already underway from Arizona to Arkansas, with roughly 30 species of tarantula active across 15 states between late August and October. Males that have spent five to ten years underground emerge for the first and only mating season of their lives, crossing roads, trails, and open desert in search of a female's burrow. Within months of mating, or failing to, they die. For residents in the affected states, the season means more spider sightings on roads and near homes. But entomologists and wildlife officials say the…Open
An orangutan has been rescued by locals in Borneo, Indonesia, as wildfires continue to sweep across the region. The animal is suspected of having acute respiratory problems and will be moved to a wildlife rehabilitation center.
Wild horses have been legally protected by Congress for over half a century. But many of them may be getting sold into slaughter under Trump, according to a New York Times investigation. Ranchers can buy these horses for “pennies on the dollar” and then sell them for “huge margin” into slaughter, says Spectrum News 1 journalist Ryan Thompson. “We don’t believe that the current program upholds enough protections for wild horses to not hit this loophole,” says Patricia Miller of American Wild Horse Conservation.
