Richard Holland, Senior Lecturer in Animal Cognition, Bangor University Birds have an impressive ability to navigate. They can fly long distances, to places that they may never have visited before, sometimes returning home after months away. Though there has been a lot of research in this area, scientists are still trying to understand exactly how […]
Wood beetles are nature’s recyclers – with a little help from fungi
All living organisms have their own ecosystems, with digestive tracts inhabited by symbionts, the scientific term for organisms living in symbiosis. Michał Filipiak, Environmental Biologist, Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University Dead wood-eating beetles, such as termites, can cause damage to residential properties. But they repay humans by performing a priceless service: helping us recycle […]
Our Cat, Ginger Jim
by Barbara George, Tellington Ttouch Behaviourist Ginger lived in the garden for more than a year. While other tom cats left after the trauma of being neutered, Ginger stayed. From his behaviour it seemed that he had had a home previously as he was comfortable with people but not completely socialised. My cats wouldn’t let him inside, so […]
The Lives of Cats
by Barbara George, Tellington Ttouch Behaviourist Our recent game-viewing and photography holiday reminded me again how differently the various types of cats live. The African Wild Cats that we saw have a harsh and dangerous environment. While they may have access to the best possible food, they are exposed to danger every minute of the day. There are […]
The first ever flower, 140m years ago, looked like a magnolia
The early flower had more numerous whorls suggesting flowers have become simpler over time. Mario Vallejo-Marin, Associate Professor in Evolutionary Biology, University of Stirling Although most species of plants on Earth have flowers, the evolutionary origin of flowers themselves are shrouded in mystery. Flowers are the sexual organs of more than 360,000 species of plants […]
A Cat by Any Name …
by Barbara George, Tellington Ttouch Behaviourist English is a fascinating language that has incorporated and adapted words from many other languages. Here is a selection of words associated with cats; there are many more, some no longer in use and others regularly used. CAT – From the Old English catt or catte from Latin cattus, originally related to […]
HARPY EAGLE, of the largest Birds of Prey
ANIMAL PLANET ~ The harpy eagle is legendary, although few people have seen one in the wild. Early South American explorers named these great birds after harpies, the predatory “frightful, flying creatures with hooked beak and claws” of Greek mythology. This dark gray bird of prey has a very distinctive look, with feathers atop its […]
Cat Chat – Body Posture
by Barbara George, Tellington Ttouch Behaviourist Having looked at various parts of the cat we are left with the body itself; posture is an important visual sign and usually seen first. Cats can stand, sit, crouch, stalk, lie down or roll over. In choosing their position cats take into account various factors including the environment, temperature, other animals […]
Why deeper insights into the Agulhas Current can shed light on climate patterns
South Africa has one of the fastest and strongest flowing currents in the world running along its east coast: the Agulhas Current. It influences local as well as global rainfall and climate. Katherine Hutchinson explains why it’s important to monitor a current that plays a significant role in the global ocean conveyor belt. What is […]
Cats that Hunt
by Barbara George, Tellington Ttouch Behaviourist All cats have the instinctive ability to hunt; not all cats have the opportunity or the inclination to hunt, domestication has reduced the prey drive and level of hunting skill. Some cats instinctively know how to make the killing bite while others learn from other cats, or through necessity. Cats are designed […]
