WILDLIFE UPDATES

HANDY THINGS TO HAVE

Sea turtles aren’t known for their manual dexterity. But research published in PeerJ, reveals that loggerhead, hawksbill and green turtles use their flippers to hold, manipulate and dislodge prey – behaviours usually found in more intelligent, sociable creatures.

NO SWEET HOME

Even bees that never leave the hive are poisoned by pesticides and herbicides. The Journal of Experimental Biology reports that exposure to chemicals brought in by foragers impairs hivebound workers’ sense of taste and ability to learn.

FRYING SOUTH

New research highlights why nestboxes should not face south. The Journal of Avian Biology reports that, although blue tit chicks can survive nestbox temperatures of 50°5C or more, they must divert energy away from growth to keep cool.

FLIGHT OF FANCY Male Costa’s hummingbirds don’t just use their flashy plumage to attract mates, they also make their tail feathers whistle by doing high-speed dives. Current C Biology reveals that they focus the sound on the object of their affections by twisting their tails as they dive.