Latest news with #nesting
CTV News
12 hours ago
- General
- CTV News
Snapping turtle lays eggs in busy Dartmouth park, prompting conservation efforts
A female snapping turtle has decided to nest in a grassy field at Dartmouth's Shubie Park. A snapping turtle has once again chosen a well-trodden part of Shubie Park in Dartmouth, N.S., to dig her nest – prompting staff and conservation officials to step in and protect the eggs. The turtle was spotted earlier this week digging multiple holes in search of the perfect nesting spot. She eventually laid her eggs and made her way back to a nearby holding pond. 'There was a snapping turtle here on Wednesday,' said Jon Burns, tour guide at the Shubenacadie Canal Commission. 'It dug various different holes, buried the eggs in one, and then made its way over to the pond.' It's not the first time the reptile has chosen the park. Burns said the same turtle nested in the area for the past two years. 'She's kind of become our little mascot,' said Burns. Snapping turtles are considered a species of special concern in Nova Scotia. While not endangered, they are protected, and staff initially attempted to cordon off the nest area before realizing that a permit is required for any such barrier. Officials from a local conservation organization have been contacted and are expected to put a perimeter in place to protect the nest and keep foot traffic at a distance. 'Usually they try to stay away from highly trafficked areas,' said Burns. 'So it's not super common for a turtle to nest here but this one seems to have something it likes.' The turtle laid her eggs in late spring and staff said hatchlings aren't expected until the fall – sometime between 65 and 95 days from the time of nesting. Visitors are encouraged to watch where they step and be mindful of signs of turtle activity, including disturbed soil and filled-in holes. 'There could be more nests in the area,' said Burns. 'They prefer shallow water with soft, muddy bottoms and this park has a lot of that.' The Shubenacadie Canal Commission, which manages the area, said it hopes the site will remain undisturbed until the eggs hatch. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
CBS News
a day ago
- General
- CBS News
U.S. Steel eaglet Ocho accidentally fledges the nest
Ocho, the U.S. Steel eaglet, has fledged the nest. Well ... kind of. Ocho left the nest at U.S. Steel's Irvin Plant in West Mifflin on Tuesday night, but instead of gracefully soaring to the skies, the young eagle tumbled off a branch and fell into the tree below. In a video from PixCams, which runs the livestream of the nest, Ocho is seen standing on a branch before the eaglet raises its wings, steps forward and falls, taking part of the nest down with it. PixCams has been able to spot Ocho, writing on Facebook, "Ocho looks to be in fine condition so no need to worry!" Before the accidental fledge, Ocho has been spending time branching, preparing for flight. PixCams has since posted several videos of Ocho perched on a branch below the nest. It's not clear what's next in Ocho's out-of-nest adventure, but viewers can watch online to find out. (Photo: PixCams/YouTube) The Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania says eagles in the area usually leave the nest mid-summer and keep returning until their parents kick them out. While it's the sixth season for dad Irvin at the nest, mom Stella replaced Claire, who left the nest late last year. Irvin and Stella laid three eggs, but only Ocho hatched in March. The appropriately-named Ocho is the eighth eaglet to hatch at the U.S. Steel nest. The nest was built along the Monongahela River in 2019, and a wildlife camera has been livestreaming the family since 2021. Pittsburgh's eagle nesting season has been full of ups and downs this year. Usually bird watchers also have their eyes on the Hays eagle nest, but it collapsed during a storm last summer and the birds didn't rebuild in the same spot. However, trail photographers later found the eagles upstream across the river, and not only had they built another nest, but they had also hatched two eaglets. The hope is that PixCams can get another camera up there so Pittsburghers can keep up with the newly-renamed Glen Hazel eagles next year.
E&E News
13-06-2025
- Science
- E&E News
Sage grouse study may benefit ranchers as Trump seeks to ramp up grazing
A 10-year study led by federal and academic researchers appears to dispel the long-held notion that cattle grazing and the resulting lower grass height negatively affect the success of greater sage grouse nests. The study, which included researchers at the U.S. Geological Survey, University of Idaho and Forest Service, analyzed more than 1,200 sage grouse nesting sites in Idaho. It found that while grazing does reduce grass height that helps conceal grouse chicks from predators, the success rate of nests 'is no greater in pastures that were rested for 4-8 years than those currently or recently grazed.' Thus, the study found 'no indication that removing cattle from pastures affected nesting success.' Nor did it find 'compelling evidence' that the density of nesting hens increased in pastures where grazing was stopped. Advertisement 'Based on results of this research, livestock grazing, when properly managed, does not appear to negatively impact sage grouse nest survival or brood success,' it said. 'This study provides critical insights for land managers balancing livestock production with sage grouse conservation, supporting adaptive grazing strategies that maintain both economic and ecological objectives.'
CBC
12-06-2025
- CBC
'Pretty evil birds' are dive-bombing pedestrians in Etobicoke, residents say
Red-winged blackbirds are dive-bombing residents of one Toronto neighbourhood, swooping down and pecking at their heads, but an expert says there's not too much the locals can do as the birds protect their nests. On one street in Etobicoke, near Kipling Avenue and Dundas Street W., the birds with the distinctive markings are annoying and even frightening residents. In some cases, if the pedestrians flee, the birds will chase. Ron Glatt, a local resident who has lived in the area for four years, said on Thursday that the attacks seem to be worse this year than last. He said the red-winged blackbirds live in the trees in the area, including outside his house. "We've just really been seeing them be more aggressive than usual," Glatt said. "When people are running, it seems to make things worse. The birds will follow them down the street. We've seen delivery drivers get repeatedly attacked while they're trying to deliver packages. So yeah, they're pretty evil birds." Glatt said his home security camera footage has shown instances where people have been attacked to the point where they have fallen over. Glatt said it would be good if the birds found another area in which to nest. But failing that, he said he has found that staring at the birds, or making eye contact, is one way to lessen attacks. "Walking backwards and looking at the birds tends to work pretty well," he said. One of the homeowners who lives in the neighbourhood told CBC Toronto that her family stopped using the front door to avoid getting attacked. 'A territorial bird just protecting its eggs' Tristan Boswell, another resident, said he was pecked in the head earlier this week in the evening when he was not wearing anything on his head. "It's a territorial bird just protecting its eggs. And it's annoying," he said. "I've seen people, when people are just passing through, get swooped on and they're like, they're being attacked by some invisible enemy, but it's just a bird nesting and trying to protect its little ones." Boswell said he thinks the birds' behaviour is more of an inconvenience rather than a major problem, but he said the city could perhaps put decoys of hawks or owls or blue jays in the trees to ward the red-winged blackbirds off. "Nothing invasive or anything like that... because life is life, you know," he said. Shane Abernethy, bander-in-charge at the Tommy Thompson Park Bird Research Station, an initiative of the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, said the nests are "extremely vulnerable" because the eggs have hatched and they now contain live chicks. Abernethy said bird nests and their eggs are protected under the Migratory Birds Convention Act, an international treaty. Moving them is not possible, he said. 'They're not out for blood' "These birds are defending their nests so this is a purely defensive action. They're not out for blood. This is nesting season for red-winged blackbirds and, in fact, the peak of it," Abernethy said. "As a result, they're aggressively driving away anything they perceive as a threat, which will include any potential predators as well people who have wandered a little bit too close to the nest sites themselves," he said. Abernethy said the attacks should end in the next few weeks. He said the birds attack from behind and he recommends that people make eye contact if a bird is spotted close by, avoid getting close to the birds and consider wearing a hat for protection. In a statement, a city spokesperson said the city can't anticipate where nests are being built or how a bird might react to a person's proximity to one.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Our kids stay in our family home, and my ex and I alternate staying there and in an apartment. 'Nesting' works for us.
When my ex and I divorced, we decided to try "nesting." Our kids stay in the family home, and we alternate parenting them there and staying in an apartment. It helps us coparent better, keeps things stable for the kids, and is financially responsible. When my marriage ended after more than two decades, I wasn't ready to uproot everything all at once. We had two kids, a shared house, and years of routines. So instead of rushing to sell or move out, we decided to try something I'd only heard about in passing: "nesting." Nesting means keeping the family home as the primary base for our kids while my ex and I alternate living there and staying elsewhere. We change places halfway through the week, and the kids never have to pack a bag. Of the options we discussed, nesting not only sounded good for the kids but was also the most financially responsible option. We live in Los Angeles, where rents are sky high, and having two homes large enough to support the kids isn't really a possibility right now. After alternating on friends' couches for a while, we rented a studio apartment as our second place. My ex and I alternate spending half the week parenting in the family home and the other half in a sleek, modern studio with building amenities like a gym and a hot tub. The apartment is clean, quiet, and honestly, kind of incredible. There are no toys on the floor, no dog hair, and no scooters in the hallway. Sometimes I just sit quietly on the couch to hear myself think. Nesting can feel surreal. The house stays the same, but we rotate in and out like actors in a long-running play. One night, I'll be folding laundry and helping with homework, and the next, I'll be alone in the studio apartment eating cereal for dinner. There is some whiplash, as my environment changes every couple of days. The hardest part of nesting isn't emotional. It's logistical. There is a lot of sharing and coordinating. We lay out a schedule in a combined calendar. We share grocery lists and update each other on the house and kid status when we switch places. We agreed not to leave either house messy, to let each other know our comings and goings, and to change the sheets — especially if someone brings a date home, which is a whole other world to navigate. We have moments when communication breaks down, when we snap at each other, or when resentment starts creeping in. Sometimes, the towels are in a new place. Sometimes, my ex forgets to take the trash out. Sometimes, I leave my socks on the floor. This arrangement takes a level of cooperation that many divorced couples might not be willing to do. We're not just co-parenting; we're cohabiting without coexisting. My ex is my roommate. In two homes. Nesting isn't a permanent solution, and we both know that. The kids will get older and our lives will evolve, so we're figuring out how long this arrangement can last. In the short term, it gives us space to keep stability in the kids' lives. They don't have to switch houses or bounce between bedrooms. Their lives stay constant, even as ours shift. They roll with the alternating parents and try to keep up with the ever-changing schedule of who's home. I think they appreciate having access to both of us and treasure having their own space. There are moments I miss having my own uninterrupted home, and get sick of packing a bag every few days. But when I think of my kids having to move back and forth after their parents split up, I know I'd rather do it for them. Read the original article on Business Insider
