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Birds 
Oil Spill Residue Still Present In Minnesota
 Nesting pelicans in Minnesota are still showing signs of oil contamination from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. According to Minnesota Public Radio, eggs from pelicans nesting on Marsh Lake are showing signs of contamination, both from petroleum and the chemicals used to clean up the spill. Many chemicals that could be present are known carcinogens and could have a drastic impact on the pelican population.
Marsh Lake in western Minnesota is home to the largest breeding colony of American white pelicans in North America, with more than 15,000 pairs of the birds nesting there. While only preliminary tests have been completed, an alarming 80-90 percent of eggs have shown evidence of contamination. Further study is needed to determine what effect that contamination may have on developing embryos or young birds, though funding is running out for the research.
Even a small drop of oil contamination can be hazardous to a bird, and small amounts of harmful chemicals could have even greater impacts on eggs and chicks. Do you think BP should continue to be held responsible for the ongoing effects of the 2010 spill and help fund the necessary research? Share your opinions in the comments!
American White Pelican
Photo © Linda Tanner Oil Spill Residue Still Present In Minnesota originally appeared on About.com Birding / Wild Birds on Sunday, May 20th, 2012 at 09:30:47. Permalink | Comment | Email this |
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Photo Contest Deadline Approaching
 If you haven't entered the May Bird Photo Contest, it's not too late! This month's theme is "Birds and Blossoms" and all photographers - amateur or experienced - are welcome to enter up to three photos. Just be sure to show both parts of the theme - a bird and a blossom!
Entries must be submitted to the official contest thread in the forum, and all entries are due no later than Wednesday, May 23. Finalists will be announced in the forum and blog, and reader voting will determine the winning photo. Take advantage of the beauty of spring and submit your bird and blossom photos today!
Need tips? Visit About.com Photography to learn how to photograph flowers and how to get great shots of birds!
Wild Sunflowers
Photo © Melissa Mayntz Photo Contest Deadline Approaching originally appeared on About.com Birding / Wild Birds on Friday, May 18th, 2012 at 09:27:23. Permalink | Comment | Email this |
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Birds and Blueberries
 Florida blueberry farmers are having a spring season, not only because of warmer than typical weather, but also because of the hungry appetites of cedar waxwings. According to Bay News 9, the birds have not migrated as expected, and instead are feasting on farmers' crops. Farmers have been using cannons, balloons and other techniques to discourage the birds, but with only limited success. Officials from the Florida Farm Bureau are considering seeking permits to shoot the birds.
Cedar waxwings are largely frugivorous and feed on different types of fruits and berries, often staying in the same area until local plants are stripped of fruit. They are protected under the Migratory Bird Act, however, and anyone illegally harming the birds could face severe fines and other penalties.
Do you think farmers should be granted limited, temporary permits to kill birds to protect their crops? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Blueberries
Photo © Scott Schopieray Birds and Blueberries originally appeared on About.com Birding / Wild Birds on Wednesday, May 16th, 2012 at 11:18:46. Permalink | Comment | Email this |
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Mailbag Monday Finding Hummingbirds
 It's time again for Mailbag Monday, and during Hummingbird Month, each week I'm featuring a reader's question about these flying jewels. This week, Lil from Arizona asks...
"We live in a desert area and I never see hummingbirds, but my neighbors have hummingbird feeders and my friends say they've seen them. How can I find them?"
Hummingbirds are more adaptable than many people realize, and there are many appropriate hummingbird habitats where these birds can thrive. If you want to find hummingbirds in the wild, watch for their silhouettes as they perch, or watch for their quick flight movements. Listening for the sounds hummingbirds make - with their voices as well as their wings - can also give you a clue for finding hummingbirds. Once you know where to look and what to look for, you'll be surprised at how many hummingbirds you see!
Do you have a bird-related question to ask? Submit it to Mailbag Monday, or check out the recent question archive to see what other birders have been asking!
Hummingbird Silhouette
Photo © Larry Hennessy Mailbag Monday Finding Hummingbirds originally appeared on About.com Birding / Wild Birds on Monday, May 14th, 2012 at 12:31:54. Permalink | Comment | Email this |
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Lend Jays a Hand
 Florida scrub-jays need a hand, and Jay Watch is calling for volunteers to assist in bird population surveys in several Florida counties. According to the Great Florida Birding Trial blog, half-day trainings are provided to volunteers and the count periods take place on three consecutive mornings, though individual volunteers do not need to join each day's count to be of help.
The Florida scrub-jay is the state's only endemic bird and faces severe threats from habitat loss. By monitoring the species' population, the effectiveness of ongoing conservation programs can be judged, and adjustments can be made as necessary to continue to safeguard these birds.
To get involved with helping out the Florida scrub-jay, contact Marianne Korosy, Audubon Florida Important Bird Area Coordinator and Jay Watch Coordinator at mkorosy@audubon.org.
Florida Scrub-Jay
Photo © Dawn Scranton Lend Jays a Hand originally appeared on About.com Birding / Wild Birds on Saturday, May 12th, 2012 at 09:20:45. Permalink | Comment | Email this |
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Autoblog 
Exclusive: Hennessey Venom GT Spyder pops in at Cars & Coffee
Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Misc. Auto Shows, Specialty, MISC
Our own lensman Drew Phillips caught sight of this at Cars & Coffee in Irvine, California: the 2013 Hennessey Venom GT Spyder. This is the first time it's been seen on our shores. The targa version of the Venom GT packs the same 1,200 horsepower as the coupe - which also debuted at C&C, one year ago - but adds $150,000 to the price.That means you'll need $1.1 million for that wind-in-your-very-rich-hair feeling.
We still don't have exact specs on the car beyond a very limited build and its "enhanced driving sensations," but the high-res gallery of photos above should fill in enough blanks for now. Hennessey Venom GT Spyder pops in at Cars & Coffee originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 20 May 2012 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments |
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Official: Ferrari marks 60th anniversary of 250 GT
Filed under: Classics, Ferrari, Racing 
Surely the most important of the classic Ferraris is the 250 series. Over its decade of production, the 250 series gave us some of the most recognizable models of the marque's history, including the GTO, the Testa Rossa, the Lusso and the original California Spyder.
This year Ferrari is celebrating the 60th anniversary of the series that was built around Giachino Colombo's enduring 3.0-liter V12. To mark the occasion, the Ferrari Museum in Maranello is displaying two unique and important 250s from its historical archives. One is the 250 GT SWB Berlinetta that Stirling Moss drove to victory at four races in 1961. The second is the so-called Breadvan, which was commissioned by Count Volpi di Musurata and developed by Piero Drogo and Giotto Bizzarrini. It was one of the original shooting brakes and provided the inspiration for the new FF.
The two are already on display in the museum for any visitor to see, but if your travel plans aren't sending you to Maranello anytime soon, you can still check them out in the photo gallery above and the press release below.Continue reading Ferrari marks 60th anniversary of 250 GT Ferrari marks 60th anniversary of 250 GT originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 20 May 2012 16:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments |
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Video: Disney launches Cars Land microsite ahead of June 15 opening [w/video]
Filed under: Etc., Videos, Toys/Games 
The curtain is rolling back on Cars Land, which opens at Disney's California Adventure next month. Mater himself makes appearances in a network commercial and the new microsite, and on the latter he'll be happy to take you on a tour of some of the attractions at the live-action Radiator Springs, including a Racer's test drive and Luigi's Flying Tires.
You can watch the commercial below and click here to check out the microsite.Continue reading Disney launches Cars Land microsite ahead of June 15 opening [w/video] Disney launches Cars Land microsite ahead of June 15 opening [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 20 May 2012 12:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments |
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Official: New pics show 2013 Nissan Altima from all angles
Filed under: Sedan, Nissan, Design/Style 
Nissan has released a passel of official photosd of the 2013 Nissan Altima, the sedan it "would like to make #1 if customers agree." While the new styling might take getting used to, the other changes are all welcomed: it's lighter, has a revised transmission, will return 38 miles per gallon if equipped with the four-cylinder, and starts at $21,500 before the $760 destination charge.
Now that the Altima and Toyota Camry are known quantities, the pending reveal of the Honda Accord will fill out the field and then we'll have a better idea of the fight to come. Until then, have a closer look at the new Altima in the photo gallery above.New pics show 2013 Nissan Altima from all angles originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 19 May 2012 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments |
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Official: Toyota boosting V6 production in Alabama, adding 125 jobs
Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Toyota 
Toyota's Huntsville, Alabama production facility, which makes the company's four-cylinder, V6 and V8 engines, is getting a couple of big boosts: $80 million and roughly 125 new jobs. When the spending and hiring is complete, the enlarged factory and the plant's 1,150 workers will raise engine-production capacity to more than 700,000 units, with V6 production more than doubled from 146,000 engines per year to 362,000.
Toyota's been spending and hiring all this year, with $645 million invested in growth and 1,100 jobs added to the rolls. "This V6 line addition," said a company EVP, "continues to reflect our growing optimism for an improving North American market." Toyota's press release is posted below.Continue reading Toyota boosting V6 production in Alabama, adding 125 jobs Toyota boosting V6 production in Alabama, adding 125 jobs originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 19 May 2012 16:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments |
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Report: McLaren dispersing top-secret Unit 2 collection to showrooms
If you've got the cash to place on the hood (or nose cone, as it were), most any Formula One team will sell you one of their old race cars. After all, they're not using them anymore, and it's a good way to raise funds to develop next year's car. But not McLaren. The team from Woking - one of the most successful in the series - doesn't sell its old cars, though with 176 grand prix victories, twelve drivers' championships and eight constructors' titles, you can bet they'd fetch a pretty penny. Instead, it keeps them all warehoused at a facility, location undisclosed, simply called Unit 2.
The warehouse contains some 75 grand prix cars, an untold number of the team's sports cars from other racing series (like Le Mans, Can-Am and Indy), and various road cars it's produced over the years, like the legendary McLaren F1, the SLR it built for Mercedes-Benz, and the new MP4-12C. But while none of these cars are for sale, Unit 2 will soon be depleted of much of its stock.
Their destinations? The 35 global dealerships that McLaren Automotive has opened or will open by year's end, like the one pictured above in Düsseldorf. Each showroom is to get a racing car to display alongside the road cars it has for sale, and many of them will be location-specific. The dealer in Monte Carlo, for example, will display the 1993 MP4-8 that Ayrton Senna drove to victory at the Monaco Grand Prix. The dealer in Brussels will reportedly display the 2004 MP4-19 with which Kimi Raikkonen won the 2004 Belgian Grand Prix. And the Philadelphia showroom will display the 1976 M26 that James Hunt piloted to victory at the US Grand Prix that year.
So if you want to see a piece of McLaren racing history, better call up your nearest dealership and find out when their show car is due to arrive. Just don't go looking for Unit 2, because even if you can find it, chances are they won't let you in.McLaren dispersing top-secret Unit 2 collection to showrooms originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 19 May 2012 12:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments |
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Video: Watch spectators rush to save lives of rally drivers trapped in capsized Renault
Filed under: Etc., Safety, Videos, Renault, Racing 
We don't need to tell you why rally racing - though awesome - is incredibly dangerous. As much as we love to watch turbocharged, all-wheel-drive Euro hatches being flung around on dirt, gravel, snow and tarmac, the fact that many of these races go through small towns and wooded trails leaves plenty of room for disaster.
Case in point: This Renault Clio racer went off course during the 2012 Mazowiecki Rally, leaving driver Patrick Osowiecki and navigator Maciej Wrona trapped upside-down in a lake. According to CarScoop, no race officials were near the scene of the accident, but some selfless spectators rushed in to attempt to free Osowiecki and Wrona from their racecar. Scroll down to watch the action unfold.Continue reading Watch spectators rush to save lives of rally drivers trapped in capsized Renault Watch spectators rush to save lives of rally drivers trapped in capsized Renault originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 18 May 2012 19:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments |
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Report: Car Wars report predicts Hyundai, Kia will lose market share
Filed under: Car Buying, Ford, GM, Hyundai, Kia, Toyota, Earnings/Financials 
The annual "Car Wars" report by Merrill Lynch analyst John Murphy predicts that, despite their seizing of U.S. market share over the last few tumultuous years, Korean brands Hyundai and Kia will give it all back and then some to companies like Ford, General Motors and Toyota by 2016.
Murphy bases his predictions not on tea leaves or crystal balls, but rather the rate at which automakers launch new products. Ford will replace 26 percent of its product line over the next four years, a number that represents 46 percent of its volume, while General Motors will replace 25 percent and Toyota 24 percent. On account of these new product launches, Murphy says Ford can expect to add 0.8 percentage points of market share, General Motors will recover 0.5 points and Toyota will add another 0.3 points.
Other automakers that won't be so aggressive in turning over their lineups with new models include Chrysler, Honda, Nissan and the European brands, which Murphy surmises will all remain flat in terms of market share.
Hyundai and Kia, meanwhile, will be introducing fewer new models than the rest and therefore, Murphy predicts, will see a 0.5 decline in U.S. market share.
Of course, these are all just predictions and can be blown to bits with the next unforeseen economic crisis or natural disaster, just like the last three years were. And there are other factors that might affect market share for each automaker during the next three years, including the availability of raw materials, exchange rates, union contracts, recalls and a million another minor things that might grow to become big things, not the least of which is consumers deciding they actually like all those new products being launched.Car Wars report predicts Hyundai, Kia will lose market share originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 18 May 2012 18:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments |
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Report: Next Subaru WRX previewed by Advanced Tourer concept
Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Tokyo Motor Show, Hatchback, Subaru 
There was nary a peep of discontent about the looks of the Subaru Advanced Tourer concept revealed at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show. But when everyone was clamoring for Scooby to transfer the Advanced Tourer's looks to a production vehicle, never once did people ask for that transfer to be foisted on the WRX. A report in Motor Trend, though, says that's what's happening: the concept "was actually an early look at the next-generation Subaru WRX."
MT's sources said the front end Advanced Tourer's front end will go onto the WRX, with other aspects of the concept made more aggressive to suit the personality of Subaru's rally-ready racer. And if the concept also presages the next WRX's dimensions, then you can expect the next-generation sedan and hatchback to be larger (though in truth we don't anticipate a big gain in footprint).
Notice the name "Impreza" hasn't appeared anywhere in our discussion yet. Subaru is reportedly dropping the name in an attempt to get more 'Likes' for the WRX by making it more approachable, so the next model will relinquish its association with the Impreza line and be more performanced focused even as it is receives a better interior and is morphed into a "more-mature sporty grand tourer." Engine choices are still being debated for the car due in 2015; the rumored options include 1.6-liter and 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinders and a hybrid version of the 1.6-liter.Next Subaru WRX previewed by Advanced Tourer concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 18 May 2012 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments |
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Video: Watch this Artega GT blast around an unfinished track filmed with a quadrocopter
Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Europe, Videos, MISC 
You don't hear too much about the Henrik Fisker-designed Artega GT, but its occasional appearances are always welcome. In this episode of Where's Artega Now?, the folks at eGarage worked with Germany's Christopher Kippenberger, who make a quadrocopter designed for capturing aerial footage.
A day was spent at Germany's Blister Berg Drive Resort, essentially a German version's of Spain's Ascari Race Resort. One slight difference: Blister Ber's track isn't finished, so the Artega was left to drift it out over the construction site threading around haulers and front-end loaders.
Kippenberger's quadrocopter is of his company's design, meant to bring both Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and helicopter shots into the range of the enthusiast video shooter. At $5,000, it's not cheap, but that's a steal compared to other UAVs - and just pennies compared to a helicopter - and each unit is built-to-order.
But enough reading. Have a look at what it and the Artega GT can do in the video below.Continue reading Watch this Artega GT blast around an unfinished track filmed with a quadrocopter Watch this Artega GT blast around an unfinished track filmed with a quadrocopter originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 18 May 2012 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments |
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