ST. PAUL — North America has lost more than a quarter of its bird population, or nearly three billion birds, over the past half-century. Carrol Henderson has seen this decline here among some of Minnesota’s bird populations. He is the recently retired director of the Nongame Wildlife Program at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Henderson said the western meadowlark, which is down nearly eight percent, and the grasshopper sparrow, down more than seven percent, have seen the steepest declines. “These are all types of species which have been largely reduced to very small numbers on prairie regions where they were once extremely common,” Henderson said. Henderson also notes what other experts have noted in recent years: a gradual decline in the state’s pheasant … [Read more...] about Land conservation key to bringing back Minnesota bird population
Science
5 inconvenient truths about the ‘climate strike’
close Video Fox News Flash top headlines for Sept. 20 Fox News Flash top headlines for Sept. 20 are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com Thousands of students around the world are leaving class Friday, going on "strike" to demand immediate action against climate change. But critics say they miss these important big-picture facts. 1. GRETA THUNBERG, WHO STARTED THE CLIMATE STRIKE, CALLS CLIMATE CHANGE AN "EXISTENTIAL EMERGENCY" — BUT U.N. ESTIMATES ARE LESS ALARMING. Some climate scientists say the term "existential emergency," meaning the existence of humanity itself is endangered, is scaremongering. "Climate strikers and others (including most of the Democratic presidential candidates) refer to climate change as an existential crisis. This is nonsense," Judith Curry, a climate scientist and former professor at Georgia Tech, told Fox News. The Earth has warmed about 1 degree Fahrenheit since satellite data collection began in … [Read more...] about 5 inconvenient truths about the ‘climate strike’
Brazil aims to deflect criticism over Amazon deforestation
Christina Larson, Ap Science Writer Updated 1:21 pm CDT, Friday, September 20, 2019 Brazil's Minister of the Environment Ricardo Salles smiles for a photo during an interview with The Associated Press in Washington, Friday, Sept. 20, 2019. After facing international criticism for steeply rising rates of deforestation in the Amazon, Salles is visiting the U.S., France, Germany, and the United Kingdom to insist that there’s no big problem. (AP Photo/Jon Elswick less Brazil's Minister of the Environment Ricardo Salles smiles for a photo during an interview with The Associated Press in Washington, Friday, Sept. 20, 2019. After facing international criticism for steeply ... more Photo: Jon Elswick, AP Photo: Jon Elswick, AP Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Image 1 of 3 Brazil's … [Read more...] about Brazil aims to deflect criticism over Amazon deforestation
‘What is that, man?’ Navy confirms videos of flying objects
Ben Finley, Associated Press Updated 12:01 pm CDT, Friday, September 20, 2019 NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — In one of the videos, a small object streaks across the sky before the U.S. Navy fighter jet's tracking system locks on and follows it. "Whoa. Got it," the pilot yells, laughing as the dot moves on his screen. "Woohoo!" Another pilot asks: "Wow. What is that, man?" The Navy isn't offering an explanation — at least not publicly — for exactly what that object was. But the service is confirming the authenticity of that video and two others taken from its planes in 2004 and 2015. The release of the videos, which have been circulating online and in news reports, was not authorized, Navy officials said. But the footage has prompted the Navy to publicly discuss an ongoing investigation into sightings by its pilots of what it describes as "unidentified aerial phenomena" or UAPs in U.S. airspace on both coasts. "We are not going to try to characterize anything that … [Read more...] about ‘What is that, man?’ Navy confirms videos of flying objects
Q&A: What is the U.N. climate change summit?
Enough with the platitudes — it’s time for world leaders to take concrete actions to avert a catastrophic heating of the planet.That’s the message United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has delivered to the heads of state gathering in New York for a summit aimed at galvanizing action to slow global warming. Officials from dozens of countries are expected to take to the stage and reveal plans to step up their efforts during the day-long meeting on Monday, which will be accompanied by a variety of climate-related events.Here’s a look at what the summit is all about.Why is this summit happening?The Climate Action Summit is an attempt to kick-start the global campaign against climate change.It comes at a critical juncture following the 2015 Paris climate accord, an unprecedented international agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Participating countries are supposed to continually ratchet down their emissions, and their first plans for doing so … [Read more...] about Q&A: What is the U.N. climate change summit?