The Amazon jungle “is very close to a tipping point,” and if destruction continues it could shrink to one third of its original size in just 65 years. Climate change, deforestation and fire are the drivers of this potential Amazonian apocalypse. The loss of biodiversity would be staggering: a single hectare of Amazon rainforest contains more than 750 types of trees and 1,500 other plants, and a single pond in Brazil can sustain a greater variety of fish than is found in all of Europe’s rivers. The Andes mountain range and the Amazon jungle are home to more than half of the world’s species of flora and fauna. Before the end of this century many, and perhaps most, of those species will become extinct.

Bird Studies Canada and Nature Canada have launched a new website for the Canadian Important Bird Areas (IBA) Programme. The main goals of the IBA Canada website (www.ibacanada.ca) are to raise awareness of the IBA Programme, to share information about Canada’s IBAs, and to empower more Canadians to reconnect with nature as volunteers for the IBA Caretaker Network. Check it out.

Did you ever wonder why you never see dead penguins on the ice in Antarctica? Craig at SABirdNet has provided the answer…
It is a known fact that the penguin is a ritualistic bird which lives an extremely ordered and complex life. They have a very strong community bond, are very committed to their family and will mate for life. They also maintain a form of compassionate contact with their offspring throughout its life. When a penguin is found dead on the ice surface, other members of the family and social circle dig holes in the ice, using their vestigial wings and beaks, until the hole is deep enough for the dead bird to be rolled into and buried. The male penguins then gather in a circle around the freshly dug grave and sing…
“♫ freeze a jolly good fellow…♪”

BirdLife Malta have produced a heart-breaking and highly effective video to promote their petition demanding the Maltese prime-minister ban illegal hunting. The link is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0SgNMBvVoQ. Watch it, think about it, sign the petition. Please.