Flying off to a beach vacation? Pack sunscreen, bathing suits, and…feathers?! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Birds also migrate thousands of miles to warmer climates! But while we humans fly in air-conditioned comfort, how do these birds of a feather stay cool? Kasper Delhey
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Do seabirds sign prenups? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. All aboard for Love Island! For the albatross seabird, that’s The Falklands. Albatrosses are monogamous, generally mating with one partner for life. Or at least, for a while — like us, they can divorce and
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What do you call a pink bird who loves to socialize? A fla-mingle! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. We all love to primp for a party – flamingos are no exception! They rub their cheeks on a gland by their tails to keep their
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Ever dream of flying? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. During sleep, our brains alternate through dream AND non-dream states. But does this happen in other species as well? Gianina Ungurean and team from Ruhr University Bochum explored this – in PIGEONS!
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Who’s taking on racoons for the title of ULTIMATE DUMPSTER DIVER??!! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science, saying – SURPRISE! It’s the Sulphur-crested cockatoo! Before twenty-eighteen, these pranksters were reported opening garbage cans in three suburbs around Sydney, Australia. They used their beaks and feet
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Flying under the influence? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. We’re not the only creatures that drink alcohol. Birds do too. Over time, some of the sugar in bird feeders and the nectar in flowers ferments into booze. And hummingbirds… drink up to
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Come on in, the water’s fine! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Brrrr, a freezing lake! But your buddy dives right in! Building up your courage — you too take the plunge! This is called social learning, and humans do it all the time. But
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Looking for “likes”? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. I admit it, I LOVE looking at photos on Instagram. Look at this colorful seashell! This fantastical flower! But wait… Why did my GORGEOUS photo ONLY get three “likes”? You’d think the prettier the picture, the
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I’ll be there in the blink of an eye….literally? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Imagine you’re a bird, flying through the air….The wind glides off your feathers as you swerve and swoop high above. But one blink…and CRASH landing! Yet blinking keeps eyes moisturized
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Frequent fliers? More like frequent colliders! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Here you are, a bird in flight, minding your own business. Suddenly – SQUAWK! OH NO! A WIND FARM! Fly back!!! Wind energy might help save the planet, but it’s deadly to birds.
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