Exciting new research published in @currentbiology.bsky.social by our guest scientist and former group leader @jmrko.bsky.social. The study highlights insights from connectomics research in songbirds. „Tunneling neurons“ open new perspectives on how adult neural circuits may regenerate.
Constructing a nest underwater is no easy task! But shell-dwelling cichlids are expert architects, instinctively transforming empty snail shells into protective nests.
Take a deep dive into the new cichlid research from our Institute!
🔗 Press release: www.bi.mpg.de/news/2026-04...
That's home. That's us.
This image of home just came down from the Artemis II crew.
Taken after their translunar injection burn, there are aurorae at top right and lower left, and zodiacal light at lower right.
Credit: NASA/Reid Wiseman
Trump to revoke protections for endangered species in Gulf of Mexico; convening so-called ‘God squad’ to override provisions of Endangered Species Act for ‘national security’ www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
This rarely-seen Glass Octopus was caught by an underwater robot during an expedition off the Phoenix Islands.
Not only people killed and harmed: 5m tonnes of CO2 emitted in just 14 days of US war on Iran, analysis finds www.theguardian.com/world/2026/m...
✨ Happy International Women’s Day. ✨
Today, we celebrate the power, courage, and impact of women around the world. Let’s continue to create space where women feel seen, valued, and unstoppable. May we continue to challenge stereotypes, support one another, and inspire the next generation.
New paper out on the decision strategies of bumblebees. When using visual cues to make flower choices, they switch strategy with sensory context, learning as much as necessary, but as little as possible. Based on their training time, we propose a mechanism for this switch. tinyurl.com/2r9d4jrs 🌸🐝🧠
A deceased Puffin lies on its back on the ground. Wording above reads: Please report sightings of all dead birds. A graphic showing an exclamation mark in a triangle features.
⚠️ We've had reports of seabirds washing up. Please report ALL species of dead birds ⬇️
📍 In England, Wales & Scotland: www.gov.uk/guidance/...
📍 In Northern Ireland: www.daera-ni.gov.uk/...
📍 In Republic of Ireland: aviancheck.apps.serv...
#UKBirding #BirdingWales #BirdingScotland
Hot off the press 🐣 Do birds have any idea of what their eggs look like? Contrary to our expectations, we show that barn swallows don't, nor do they learn it over time. Yet that doesn't stop them from successfully ejecting foreign eggs!
🔗 Read more here: doi.org/10.1098/rsbl... #OpenAccess
Periodic reminder that moa de-extinction could lead to net biodiversity loss due to conservation deprioritisation of extant species. The (re)introduction process of any resultant genetically-modified Emus will very expensive www.nature.com/articles/s41... #Ornithology
A collection of six ominous bird valentines set against a background of pink hearts. In the first one, a Canada Goose looks angry and hisses and the text says "Baby, I'll make you fall head over heels if you approach within 10m of my nest." In the second, an American white pelican opens its mouth to eat the reader and the text says "There are plenty of fish in the sea, but I want this one." In the third valentine, a Black Vulture looks suspiciously at the reader and the text says "I will love you until you die. And after that, I'll love you even more." A Southern Cassowary stands proudly against the heart-covered background. The text says "My wattles are red. My head is blue. My deadly reputation has been somewhat overblown, but I'd kill for you." In the fifth valentine, a Northern Giant-Petrel stands open-billed next to a large brown furry object, and the text says "Let's seal the deal by sharing a 3000 kg elephant seal carcass." In panel 6, a happy-looking Bearded Vulture holds a bone in its beak, and the text says "I love every part of you, especially your bones."
Ominous bird valentines.
A European storm petrel nesting among rocks in Mousa, Shetland.
The RSPB is looking for surveyors to census the UK’s largest Storm Petrel colony on Mousa, Shetland.
We need 2-4 volunteers who are comfortable working and camping in a remote location with limited facilities, to help complete playback surveys during mid-July 2026. 🪺🏝️🏕️
A diagram of the evolution of whales, from land dwelling mammals to the ocean giants we know today.
Whale evolution makes me uncomfortable
Image of a deceased Puffin lying on the ground. White wording on an orange background reads: Please report sightings of dead birds.
⚠️ Please report sightings of dead birds for possible testing for Avian Influenza. ⬇️
📌 In England, Wales & Scotland: www.gov.uk/guidance/...
📌 In Northern Ireland: www.daera-ni.gov.uk/...
📌 In Republic of Ireland: aviancheck.apps.serv...
#UKBirding #BirdingWales #BirdingScotland
🚨🚨👇👇👇👇 🚨🚨
A hybrid grolar bear saga is unfolding in the Arctic, and the tale of this strange family has much to tell us about nature on our changing planet
You are ABSOLUTELY NOT going to regret listening to this bird:
Horrible idea. AI will regress all grants towards the mean since AI is trained to produce the average output.
Grants require expertise that ignores bad literature and rejects author assertions if false. no AI review I've seen has ever challenged the author's assertions as fundamentally flawed.
🚨Job Alert plz RT!
Johns Hopkins Psych & Brain Sciences is looking for a new colleague using behavioral or computational approaches to study cognition!
We are excited about many areas of (esp higher) cognition in human adults, children, or nonhuman animals
Open-rank
apply.interfolio.com/178146
If you are interested in animal cognition and birds, a reminder to apply for this PhD opportunity in our lab! Applications close December 10th
3D printed Song Sparrow finished!
Just a few days left!
Interested in avian behaviour—especially reproductive and social behaviour— and looking for a Research Assistant position? We’d love to hear from you!
🐦🪶🪺🐥
More info and apply here: tinyurl.com/577cx9tj
The surprising crab-trap–pulling behavior is described in this article: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
We recently published a paper on how animal tool use is conceptualized, offering a framework to make sense of its different forms 👇📃 www.cambridge.org/core/journal... #evosky #philsci
Vienna dog owners! Clever Dog Lab researchers and I have new study for your pups to participate in😊
Only need one visit to the lab to play with their favorite toy😍
Email to participate today! Rita.goetz@vetmeduni.ac.at
@asommese.bsky.social
PLEASE SHARE
🚨🚨 6-month RA position available at the Univ. of St Andrews to work with Sue Healy (@cogwild.bsky.social), Simone Meddle (@simonemeddle.bsky.social) and I on the behavioural neuroendocrinology of early reproduction in zebra finches.
tinyurl.com/577cx9tj
Deadline: 03/12/2025
⬇️
🚨 Uh-oh!!! A suuuper hot #PhD opportunity just dropped! My friend and collaborator Massimo De Agrò is looking for someone to explore jumping spider vision and neurophysiology! #psychophysics #jumpingspiders #greatPI - apply!!!! (Deadline December 17th) 🚨
A reminder to anyone interested in #brains #birds or behaviour, our new book is available for FREE as an ebook in addition to print copies.
#neuroethology #neuroskyence #ornithology 🧪🧠🪶
direct.mit.edu/books/oa-mon...
Hello! My name is Gabriella and in April '26 l will graduate with my PhD in compcog from VetMedUni Vienna🤩👩🏻🎓🦜🐒🐕🇦🇹
With this in mind, I am excited to soon extend my passion for animal behavior/cognition in a post-doc/job position, so any recs/ connections would be greatly appreciated!!
Website below☺️
The primary duty will be to video score reproductive and social behaviours of paired zebra finches, to ultimately combine these data with large physiology datasets as part of our BBSRC funded grant: gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref...
St Andrews based position, not eligible for visa sponsorship.
