Researching the kingfisher's hydrodynamic design

MAY 15, 2019

by Bangor University

Renowned for their noiseless dive, the kingfisher's iconic beak-shape has inspired the design of high speed bullet trains. Now scientists have tested beak-shape among some of the birds' 114 species found world-wide, to assess which shape is the most hydrodynamic.

Avian biologist Dr. Kristen Crandell and third year undergraduate student, Rowan Howe, of Bangor University, created 3-D printed models of the beak shapes of several of the diving kingfisher species, at the University's Pontio Innovation Centre.

Renowned for their hydrodynamic splash and noise free dives, Kristen wanted to test the kingfisher beaks in the lab, and has come up with a top 10 list when it comes to the most efficient design. The lab tests measured how the speed of entry changed as the models hit the water, and found evidence that a longer, narrower shape was more efficient.

This also relates to other diving species such as Gannets, renowned for pulling their wings back and spearing the water with their whole body profile.

Continued

Albino kingfisher chick draws birding community to East Coast Park

PUBLISHED

JUL 3, 2018, 10:07 PM SGT

Toh Ting Wei

SINGAPORE - A rare albino kingfisher chick is shooting to mini-stardom among the birding community here, after it was spotted last Wednesday (June 27) by wildlife observers at East Coast Park.

While white-collared kingfishers are common in Singapore, the sighting of an albino one was the first for many watchers, said observers.

The bird first flew into the public eye on Facebook pages such as the Nature Society (Singapore) group, and has made regular appearances online since.

Photos and continued  

Bird's fishy antics baffles nature reserve experts

26 December 2016
From the section Tayside and Central Scotland
Photographs showing a kingfisher appearing to hang fish out to dry has baffled experts at a wildlife reserve.

The birds kill sticklebacks by striking them against their perches, which softens the spines of the fish, making them easier to swallow.

But a kingfisher at Montrose Basin appears to have gone a step further by using the spines to pin three sticklebacks to its branch.

The bird's unusual behaviour was captured by photographer Ron Mitchell. Image copyright Ron Mitchell Image caption The bird's odd behaviour was snapped by photographer Ron Mitchell

Anna Cheshier, Angus ranger at Scottish Wildlife Trust's Montrose Basin wildlife reserve, said the kingfisher visited every day.

She said: "The photographer who took the images didn't realise what he had captured until he took them into the visitor centre the following day.

"It's hard to tell if the kingfisher has hung the fish on the branch accidentally or on purpose, but this is really unusual behaviour that no-one seems to be able to explain.

"We'd like anyone who has seen anything like this before to get in touch."

Kingfishers are found around lochs, ponds and rivers and rely on clean water to be able to dive for small fish and aquatic insects.

There are around 5,000 breeding pairs in the UK.


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Kingfisher is all white as photographers finally catch up with legendary rare bird

17:32, 5 FEB 2016

UPDATED 18:32, 5 FEB 2016

BY MIRROR.CO.UK

The all-white bird is believed to suffer from a rare condition meaning its feathers have no pigment and has only been spotted a handful of times

A couple of amateur photographers were left thrilled after they managed to capture a rare and elusive white kingfisher on camera.

The all-white bird had become legendary among photographers at the Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda - although it had only been spotted a handful of times.

The birds - usually known for their brightly coloured plumage - are often spotted flitting along the river banks.

But this unusual critter is believed to suffer from a rare condition called Leucism - meaning its feathers have no pigment.

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Kingfishers face being wiped out: Species and 37 others including puffins and curlew on list of British birds at risk of extinction

37 species of birds that occur regularly in the UK face extinction 

Across Europe one in five species face being wiped out according to study

EU and BirdLife International has published its 'red list' of birds at risk

They include the puffin, kingfisher, herring gull, lapwing, red grouse and curlew 

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

PUBLISHED: 23:12, 3 June 2015 | UPDATED: 00:17, 4 June 2015

British birds such as the puffin and kingfisher are at risk of extinction, a new study warns.

The colourful kingfisher was once a common sight on our riverbanks but is now among the 37 species in danger of dying out. 

Others include the herring gull, lapwing, curlew and red grouse.

And across Europe, nearly one in five bird species face being wiped out, according to a recent assessment.

Climate change, habitat loss and changing land management have all been blamed for the decline in many species.

The puffin, pictured off the coast of Northumberland, is now among 37 species of birds in danger of dying out, a study has warned

The colourful kingfisher, pictured above catching a fish , was once a common sight on our river banks

The figures come from a newly published European Red List of Birds, which was put together following an assessment carried out by a consortium, led by BirdLife International.

The assessment, funded by the European Commission, has revealed that per cent of 451 European bird species are now considered to be at risk of extinction across Europe.

Read more:

Rare kingfisher birds in Wallsend Hall grounds delight birdwatchers

Jan 25, 2015 14:00

By Sonia Sharma

The brightly-coloured kingfisher birds appeared at the Wallsend Hall grounds during regeneration work

A pair of rare birds have been turning heads after making home at a North East park.

Visitors to the Wallsend Hall grounds have being enjoying the sight of the brightly-coloured kingfishers who have made their home in the area.

Parks manager Carl McClean says the blue flashes of the kingfishers can be seen on an almost daily basis.

The birds first appeared when the parks were closed to the public during the Heritage Lottery Funded and Big Lottery Funded regeneration project in summer 2013.

They decided to stay and have remained there since the gates were re-opened in January last year.

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Sutton police to patrol Carshalton nature reserve after dad lets son smash rare bird's nest

9:00am Wednesday 21st May 2014 in Sutton

By Mike Murphy-Pyle, Chief Reporter

Police have stepped up patrols around a nature reserve after a man allowed his son to kick the nest of a rare bird.

The incident was spotted by nature wardens at Wilderness Island in Carshalton at the end of April.

The man was leaning on the bank while his eight-year-old son kicked a kingfisher's nest - despite signs indicating it is a nature reserve and that wildlife should not be disturbed.

A pair of the birds had been nesting at the site but have not been seen since the incident.

Kingfishers are a rare and easily disturbed bird and are afforded the highest level of legal protection meaning it is an offence to take, injure or kill a Kingfisher or to take, damage or destroy its eggs, nest or young.

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Rare kingfisher hatched at Albuquerque zoo

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.—Zookeepers at the Albuquerque BioPark are celebrating the recent birth of a rare Micronesian kingfisher.

The male chick is being hand-raised on crickets and soft pieces of meat. At six weeks old, it's fully feathered and ready to move to a larger enclosure where it will develop flight and landing skills.

Micronesian kingfishers are extinct in the wild. There are only 151 of the birds in captivity.

Officials say this marks the third successful offspring of Micronesian kingfisher at the zoo.

Zookeepers are also monitoring the development of another egg and are cautiously optimistic that kingfisher No. 152 will hatch Friday or Saturday.

The zoo's curator of birds, Peter Shannon, says the success the BioPark has had with breeding and raising the birds for the past two years is extremely important for conservation of the species.

http://www.ruidosonews.com/ci_23736161/rare-kingfisher-hatched-at-albuquerque-zoo