Birds

Cassowary, aka dinosaur bird (New Guinea):

In Dr Alice Roberts work Evolution: The Human Story on page 106 is an interesting rendition that shows Homo Habilis butchering the corpse of a Gray Rhinoceros in the Olduvai Gorge. Mostly, the article is about stone knapping and Mary Leakey's discoveries there in 1911. The area is dated from 1.6 mya to 2.4mya.
In the background is Homo Habilis attempting to chase away a large wave of Coragyps occidentalis -which look exactly like a modern day turkey vulture. It also shows one of the birds carrying away in flight what appears to a rib bone. That, of course, is impossible as they can barley lift them selves and I was the first to pointed out in in 2013.
What has always stumped me was the fact that the Turkey Vulture and the southern Black Vulture somewhere along the evolutionary ride split off as the Southern Turkey Vulture is the only one off all the species after Coragyps that can't kill prey-they have flat feet with no talons. Add to that the fact that Black Vulture is slowly being pushed out and will go extant someday because of that fact.
Trying to get an answer to that is a never ending discussion of DNA which I have no patience for.

Black naped monarch

Simply lovely..

I don't recall seeing pictures of one before.

Taiwan Blue Magpie

That's a dang real life cartoon character!

New Zealand Kakapo

The critically endangered kakapo now has a population of 157
http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-news-from-elsewhere-36805417

It was a bad idea to begin with.

That's wonderful....

I love birds almost more than non winged animals.

I understand.

On Tuesday I took the kids to Birdworld in Farnham. You can buy mealworms and a lot of the birds will eat straight from your hand including this fellow.

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/birds-talk-their-eggsand-song-might-help-their-babies-deal-climate-change-180960168/

Interesting re embrionic learning.. and rather dear.

That's something I had never considered.

http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/news/2016/10/largest-known-night-parrot-population-found-in-queensland?adbsc=social_20161025_67198126&adbid=10154016017753339&adbpl=fb&adbpr=100614418338
THINGS ARE LOOKING up for one of Australia's rarest birds, with a new night parrot community found in central-west Queensland representing a significant increase in the known population and distribution of the mysterious bird.

Scientists with the Australian Wildlife Conservancy discovered active birds and nests in Diamantina National Park in central-west Queensland, with their findings later independently verified by renowned bird scientist and author Lloyd Nielsen.

In total the scientists were able to confirm – at seven locations in Diamantina – three nests with birds in the vicinity, one pair of night parrots spotted drinking, and three records of bird calls heard by two observers.

Night parrot nest discovered in Diamantina National Park in central-west Queensland. (Image: Australian Wildlife Conservancy)

For some context of the significance of this discovery: other than a small handful of dead specimens since Europeans first discovered the night parrot in 1845, it wasn't until 2013 that naturalist John Young managed to capture the first-ever photographs and footage of a live night parrot in a spot west of Longreach.

“After more than a century in the shadows the elusive night parrot is once again in the spotlight,” said the Queensland Minister for Environment and Minister for National Parks, Dr Steven Miles, who added that, as of 21 October, the government has set up a Restricted Access Area over part of Diamantina to protect the newly discovered population.

“Anyone who enters a Restricted Access Area without authority or takes, uses or interferes with a natural resource risks a fine of $9,752 or up to $365,700 or two years’ imprisonment," said Dr Miles, adding, “This will have no impact on public use of the park as the area in question contains no parking or visitor facilities."

Well did you?