Large flocks of geese and ducks may be picturesque, but residents in Rapid City, South Dakota, aren't happy with the city's lack of action in keeping Canyon Lake Park clean of bird debris and feces. According to the Rapid City Journal, the city's budget does not allow daily cleaning of the popular recreation area, though regular cleanings and sweepings are scheduled. The city even tries to accommodate special events such as weddings with extra cleanings.

Hundreds of ducks and geese live in the park and surrounding areas, and feeding the birds is a popular family activity. Because of that, the city council is reluctant to ban feeding as a population control measure. Unfortunately, aggressive birds can interfere with fishing, golf and other park activities.

Do you think the city should be responsible for cleaning the park when residents don't stop feeding the birds? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Grazing Geese
Photo © Chris Brown

Any birder who has watched the bizarre mating rituals of different birds understands the importance of dance for attracting a mate, and now those unique dances have inspired human dances as well. According to the Cambridge City News, a psychology professor and a professional dance company have teamed up to create a Darwinian-inspired ballet, The Comedy of Change, featuring moves similar to the dance moves of mating birds.

The dance also celebrates the 200th birthday of Charles Darwin (1809-1882), whose study of the unique movements of birds was part of his natural selection theory. The birds that do the most flamboyant, most outrageous movements attract the most attention and the strongest mates.

In addition to unique mating dances, many wild birds also use brilliant plumage, unique songs, nest architecture and feeding displays to attract mates.

Have you seen any unique bird mating dances? Share your experiences in the comments!

Sandhill Crane Mating Dance
Photo © Andrea Westmoreland

The recent algal bloom in the Pacific Northwest has subsided but more than 10,000 birds were killed by its effects, according to OregonLive.com. The majority of the birds were surf and white-winged scoters, though many other bird species also suffered losses, including common murres and red-throated loons. Fortunately, the combined efforts of different conservation agencies, rehabilitation facilities and hundreds of volunteers and donators have made it possible to save hundreds of birds that are now healthy and being released.

While the majority of the birds affected do not belong to critically threatened species, some of the species are in decline and this massive event has conservationists concerned about long term impact on the birds' populations.

For more information on the ongoing bird rescues, including how you can help, visit the International Bird Rescue Research Center.

Surf Scoter
Photo © Mike Baird, flickr.bairdphotos.com

The European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) has reported that the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) near Geneva has been temporarily shut down due to a piece of French baguette dropped into the cooling unit, most likely from a passing bird, according to India Today. The LHC is extremely delicate, but fortunately the cooling irregularities were noticed in time to prevent major damage. The LHC has been plagued with difficulties, but is undergoing rehabilitation after a helium leak shut it down in September 2008. The area where the bread crust was found is surrounded by high security fences, making a bird the likely culprit.

Bread is one of birds' favorite treats, but there are many other kitchen scraps to feed birds - just don't let them eat near $4 billion nuclear research installations!

Baguettes
Photo © K P