Species lines blur between two sparrows in New England's tidal marshes

Date:  August 31, 2015

Source:  University of New Hampshire

Summary:  Among birds, the line between species is often blurry. Some closely related species interbreed where their ranges overlap, producing hybrid offspring. In the coastal marshes of New England, this has been happening between the Saltmarsh Sparrow and Nelson's Sparrow. Research finds that appearance alone is not enough to identify these hybrid zone birds.

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These Endangered Penguins Are Getting ‘Honeymoon Suites’

Eliza Gray @elizalgray

April 18, 2015

Biologists hope privacy will encourage endangered African penguins to breed 

Things are about to get a little racy between the animals at the New England Aquarium. 

Aquarium experts are building “honeymoon suites” for eight pairs of endangered African penguins, as a way of encouraging them to breed more chicks, the Associated Press reports. The aquarium hopes to grow the population of the birds, which are expected to be extinct in the wild by 2025. 

The honeymoon suites will be plastic igloo-like homes and private nooks built off of the main exhibit to protect the penguins’ modesty from the prying eyes of the aquarium’s visitors.

Source