Leucistic Brown-hooded Kingfisher by ian.white1

Here are some of the most popular posts, tweets, retweets, Facebook posts and photos from everything Burdr over the past week.

The photo above of the Brown-hooded Kingfisher by Flickr user ian.white1 is a beautiful example of leucism, which is often confused with albinism. Albinism is characterized by a total or partial lack of melanin pigment. Leucism is similar to albinism but it is a reduction in all types of pigmentation not just melanin. In birds, this can result in patches of white feathers. Also in leucistic birds, the eyes, feet and bill are usually their normal color. See this photo of a non-leucistic Brown-headed Kingfisher by Flickr user gwendolen for comparison.

The name Kingfisher comes from how well these birds fish. Earlier this week on Twitter, some people shared a few of their favorite bird names or nicknames. Do you have any favorites?

News and Information

• Like Pelicans, people can’t avoid oil either via LA Times [Twitter]
• Could the Gulf spill threaten Great Lake birds? via Great Lakes Echo [Twitter]
• Following migration patterns of geotagged purple martins via The Washington Post [Twitter]
• NatureKenya oppose the destruction of Dakatcha Woodland IBA via BirdLife [Twitter]
• Racing the oil sheen, biologists take a bird census via LA Times [Twitter]

• Harmful Bacteria Carried by Pigeons via Science Daily [Twitter]
• Oiled birds can—and should—be saved via Futurity [Twitter]
• 39 birds mark largest release since oil disaster via Caller [Twitter]
• They used pesticide, Men charged over death of 80 birds in Wanstead via BBC [Twitter]
• Louisiana Coastal Wildlife Threatened as Oil Comes Ashore in Beautiful Barataria Bay via National Geographic [Twitter]

• Oil cap pulled after ROV mishap via Upstream Online [Twitter]
• Concern over plans to downgrade Indian national park due to belief that bird life there is lost forever via BBC [Twitter]
• Audubon uses Barn Owls to build partnership with farmers in California via Audublog [Twitter]
• I agree! Cleaning oiled birds is the right thing to do via SF Gate [Twitter]
• Young Birds, Rabbits and Other Newborn Wildlife Easy Prey for Cats via American Bird Conservancy [Twitter]

• Upsetting. Northern birds could be migrating to disaster in Gulf Coast via Kansas City [Twitter]
• Birds Saved From Oil Spill Find Temporary Home At Jackson Zoo via WAPT [Twitter]
• USDA Halts Shrub Eradication To Protect Endangered Bird via CBS News [Twitter]
• Rehabilitated pelicans released in Texas via USA Today [Twitter]
• Oiled-bird rescue expert watches, waits and teaches via Miami Herald [Twitter]
• Conservationists say house builders and homeowners must provide more nest sites for swifts via BBC [Twitter]
• Artist’s latest work called Extinct Birds Previously Consumed By Humans via Discover [Twitter]
• Cool name: “Merlin”, Radar tracks birds for wind farm in Washington state via The Seattle Times [Twitter]
• What?! Man filmed trapping wild birds has received a suspended jail sentence? via BBC [Twitter]
• Hopefully soon! Bringing an end to the Maltese killing fields via RSPB [Twitter]
• Audubon’s lead shot bill hits snag in the California State Senate committee via Audublog [Twitter]
• Louisiana Report: Helping a less than Magnificent Frigatebird via Round Robin [Twitter]
• Cultures clash over birds of prey via The Globe and Mail [Twitter]
• IBAs are “important” for a reason! UN uses BirdLife’s IBAs as key indicator via BirdLife [Twitter]

• Minnesota woman gets 3yrs probation and 300hrs community service for smuggling dead birds and elephant parts via MPR News [Twitter]
• Female birds more fertile after being visually stimulated by male birds via DNA [Twitter]
• Hope not! Gulf oil spill a threat to Arctic birds via Vancouver Sun [Twitter]
• Does oily horror await birds flying south? via The Globe and Mail [Twitter]
• Audubon Society trains volunteers for oil spill response via al [Twitter]
• Singer Jimmy Buffett and 2 friends hope their new rescue boats can help save birds and marine life via USA Today [Twitter]
• Upsetting. Arctic Birds are Contaminated with Pesticides and Heavy Metals via Natural News [Twitter]
• Where I’m at too! Lot’s of noisy young birds via Kitsap Sun [Twitter]
• Showing support for clean energy and opposition to offshore drilling, “Hands Across Sands” Draw Thousands via Audubon of Florida [Twitter]
• Volunteer Jennifer Hanna from New Orleans shares her experiences helping transport Gulf birds via Audubon Magazine [Twitter]

Photos and Videos

• Great Blue Heron visits backyard by Debbie Burrous Sitka [Facebook]
• Curious duck via National Geographic [Twitter]
• Great Blue Heron by Laura Pipkin [Twitter]
• Giant Flying Dinosaurs via Telegraph [Twitter]
• Our Yawns Betray Us by Buddha’s Ghost [Twitter]

• White-tailed Kite grabs vole from its father 100 feet above ground in mid-flight! via Telegraph [Twitter]
• Down the hatch – White-breasted Nuthatch via MaineBirder [Twitter]
• Mockingbird watching Swallowtail by dwmaiden [Twitter]

Time to Feed by Greg Booher

• Time To Feed by Greg Booher [Twitter]
• Weeeeee……….. via YsMum [Twitter]
• Jamaica Bay via Fotoportmann [Twitter]

An Eagle Sky made of 1400 people by Daniel Dancer

• Bald Eagle made of 1400 people! via Telegraph [Twitter]
• Hummingbird Tongue by dwmaiden [Twitter]
• Blue Grosbeak Bath by Stephen Pollard [Twitter]
• Thieving Scrub Jay! via BirdGalAlcatraz [Twitter]

Ever the Opportunist by Buddha's Ghost

• I agree, but I really love them! Ever the Opportunist by Buddha’s Ghost [Twitter]
• Bird cleans the eye of a Rhino via Guardian [Twitter]
• Male Siberian Meadow Bunting via pseudoandsemime [Twitter]

I've told you before, stay with your brother and sister! by 120SQN

• “I’ve told you before, stay with your brother and sister!” says the Gull by 120SQN [Twitter]
• Elvis by Debbie Burrous Sitka [Facebook]

Burdrs and Blogs

• Midsummer Snipes via Hakodate Birding [Twitter]
• Whoa! Pin-striped Tit-babbler feeding Drongo Cuckoo fledgling via Bird Ecology Study Group [Twitter]
• Maybe one day! :) Introducing the Peninsular Malaysia 500 Club via Dig Deep [Twitter]

• Midsummer Warblers via Hakodate Birding [Twitter]
• This is the story of the Robins of North Andover via Burdr
• How many birds migrate of the Gulf? via Laura’s Birding Blog [Twitter]
• Great Blue Heron Babies via The Nature of Framingham [Twitter]
• Very well camouflaged! Nightjars via pewit [Twitter]

• Falcons raise family on top of library for the past five years! via Burdr
• Birdwatching in a dust storm via Birding Babylon [Twitter]
• I’ve never had one of these visit! Big bird on the loose via Birds ‘n Such [Twitter]
• Looks really comfortable! Olive-winged Bulbul taking a bath via Bird Ecology Study Group [Twitter]
• Fingers Crossed! via Show Me Nature Photography [Twitter]

• Listen to the beautiful song of the Rose-breasted Grosbeak via Burdr
• Oriental Pratincole: broken wing display and vocalization via Bird Ecology Study Group [Twitter]
• Blends right in! Nightjar Norfolk via Du Rose’s Digest [Twitter]
• Are you going to eat all of that? says the Gull to the Pelican via Red and the Peanut [Twitter]

• Video of a Robust Woodpecker nesting via Campephilus Woodpeckers [Twitter]
• Two years ago on Jun 25th, Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Fines Drastically Reduced via Burdr
• Ashy Drongo eating lunch via The Amazing Birds of Borneo [Twitter]
• Artic Terns Attack! via pewit [Twitter]

• Kookaburra helping with the laundry and more in this week’s Flickr Roundup! via Burdr
• Arctic Tern chicks via pewit [Twitter]