Songbirds Grow Feather to Cope With Extreme Cold

A saffron finch at a Peruvian National Forest and Wildlife Service shelter in Lima after being rescued from illegal export. MARIANA BAZO/REUTERS
A saffron finch at a Peruvian National Forest and Wildlife Service shelter in Lima after being rescued from illegal export. MARIANA BAZO/REUTERS
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Songbirds Grow Feather to Cope With Extreme Cold

A saffron finch at a Peruvian National Forest and Wildlife Service shelter in Lima after being rescued from illegal export. MARIANA BAZO/REUTERS
A saffron finch at a Peruvian National Forest and Wildlife Service shelter in Lima after being rescued from illegal export. MARIANA BAZO/REUTERS

A study of 250 species of Himalayan songbirds has revealed how their feathers evolved for higher altitudes. The study found birds living in colder, more elevated environments had feathers with more fluffy down - providing them with thicker "jackets," according to BBC. The insight reveals how feathers provide the tiniest birds with such efficient protection from extreme cold. It also provides clues about which species are most at risk from climate change, the scientists say. The findings were published in the journal Ecography.

The study was inspired by a tiny bird lead researcher Dr. Sahas Barve saw during an icy day of fieldwork in the Himalayas, in 2014.

"It was -10C. And there was this little bird, a goldcrest, which weighs about the same as a teaspoon of sugar. It was just zipping around catching bugs," said the researcher from the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington DC.

Barve's fingers went numb as he tried to take notes. But he remembers being blown away by the little goldcrest.

"To survive, this bird has to keep its heart at about 40C. So it has to maintain a difference of 50C in that little space," he said.

"I was like, 'OK, I really need to understand how feathers work," he noted.

Fortunately, Barve's home institution has one of the largest bird collections in the world. Examining the feathers of nearly 2,000 individual birds, in microscopic detail, he noticed a pattern linked their structure to their habitat.



AlUla Launches Summer Fruits Season as Part of 'Khayrat AlUla' Initiative 

The Summer Fruits Season is one of AlUla’s most prominent agricultural production periods, with over 4,900 tons produced annually from around 216,000 fruit-bearing trees. (SPA)
The Summer Fruits Season is one of AlUla’s most prominent agricultural production periods, with over 4,900 tons produced annually from around 216,000 fruit-bearing trees. (SPA)
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AlUla Launches Summer Fruits Season as Part of 'Khayrat AlUla' Initiative 

The Summer Fruits Season is one of AlUla’s most prominent agricultural production periods, with over 4,900 tons produced annually from around 216,000 fruit-bearing trees. (SPA)
The Summer Fruits Season is one of AlUla’s most prominent agricultural production periods, with over 4,900 tons produced annually from around 216,000 fruit-bearing trees. (SPA)

The Summer Fruits Season started in AlUla on Tuesday as part of the “Khayrat AlUla” initiative implemented by the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU).

The initiative aims to showcase the region’s agricultural diversity and reinforce its connection to the cultural and economic identity of the area.

The season is taking place at Al Manshiyah Farmers' Market from July 22 to 28, where local farmers are presenting a variety of fruits for which AlUla is known, including mangoes, grapes, and figs.

The event also features participation from local productive families in a festive atmosphere that highlights the authenticity and economic importance of agricultural heritage.

The Summer Fruits Season is one of AlUla’s most prominent agricultural production periods, with over 4,900 tons produced annually from around 216,000 fruit-bearing trees.

The event is part of the broader Khayrat AlUla series, which includes seasons for dates, grapes, citrus fruits and honey.

These efforts align with RCU's goals to strengthen food security and develop agricultural communities in line with Saudi Vision 2030.

The season contributes to empowering farmers, expanding marketing channels for their produce, and developing sales outlets connected to visitors, fostering long-term sustainability for the region’s agricultural sector.