hello everyone,

this week's issue of Birds in the News is available for your reading pleasure. This issue features a photograph of the east coast red knots, whose population crashed dramatically and suddenly, leading to speculation that this species may become extinct in just a few short years.

http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2009/07/birds_in_the_news_178.php

i also have some mystery birds for you to identify .. i think you might find them suitably challenging. today's mystery bird;

http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2009/07/todays_mystery_bird_for_you_to_312.php

and yesterday's mystery bird (an african species, thanks to dan logen);

http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2009/07/todays_bonus_mystery_bird_for.php

and for those of you who, like me, wish to visit antarctica, here's a video of an emperor penguin "rookery" for you to enjoy;

http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2009/07/a_visit_to_the_emperor_penguin.php

this is the very "penguinery" that i will visit if i receive enough votes from you to win this trip to antarctica as the official trip blogger (photographer, videographer, podcaster). so be sure to vote for me, and if you have any trouble, please let me know because i am in contact with the marketing manager, who fixes email voting problems. i slipped to third place yesterday but have a bunch of endorsements that are bringingin the votes -- my vote goal for today is to reach or beat 800 votes (and reclaim second place) by midnight EDT (9pm pacific time), and i am currently 18 votes away from that goal.

cheers,

GrrlScientist
Devorah
http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/
http://twitter.com/GrrlScientist
Vote to make me official Antarctica blogger: http://www.blogyourwaytoantarctica.com/blogs/view/152
Roosting high up a tree somewhere in Central Park, NYC