#626: Quelea

There are three species of Quelea, a Genus of weaver bird found in Africa. The most well known is the Red-billed Quelea, which is currently the most abundant wild bird in the world. Perhaps as many as 10 billion individuals inhabit the sub-Saharan regions of Africa. Flocks can take 5 hours to fly past. These birds breed during the rains, gathering in vast numbers. The males weave the nest and within twelve days of laying, up to four chicks hatch. These chicks grow fast, fledging at only two weeks old. It is this swift breeding system which leads to the population explosion. his diet consists of seeds and grains, and flocks can decimate crops, making them a serious agricultural pest. To counteract this, millions of birds are shot every year, and roosting sites are targeted at night, obliterating the birds in their sleep. Non-target species may, unfotunately, get caught in the crossfire, leading to their decline - while the Quelea still swarms on and on.

Creature Feature #587: Pigeon

The Pigeon Family contains a versatile range of birds - from some of the rarest in the world to one of the most common. With about 310 extant species, the most easily recognisable is the feral, or rock pigeon. Rock Pigeons are native to Europe, north Africa and western Asia where he is commonly found near the coast. Colonies nest on steep cliffs. He was domesticated several thousand years ago, for meat, pets and the carrying of messages. Some of these pigeons escaped, or were released, and found the urban environment suitable to their requirements. Now, buildings replace the cliffs, and instead of foraging for seeds, he now gorges on bread and other food scraps.

Other species of pigeon include:
Dodo - large and flightless and extinct
Passenger pigeon: the most common bird in North America until it was hunted to extinction.
Victoria Crowned Pigeon: the largest extant pigeon, close relative of the Dodo.
Nicobar Pigeon: another relative of the Dodo. Near Threatened.
Manumea: strange and critically endangered.
Emerald Dove: more of a lilac dove!
Turtle Dove: named for his call, not any resemblance to a reptile.

There is no technical difference between a "pigeon" and a "dove", the two are basically synonyms, although "dove" is generally used to refer to the smaller species.

Creature Feature #481: Mosquito

Mosquitoes belong to the midge family and one of the most irritating and dangerous insects in the world. Female Mosquitoes are ectoparasites, using a tube-and-needle like mouthpart to pierce the skin of her prey and then drinking its blood. This action leaves an irritated patch of reddened skin, that is exceptionally itchy. Worse however, is the Mosquitoes tendency to act as a vector for infectious diseases - such as malaria, yellow fever, dengue fever, west Nile virus and filariasis. Mosquito require water to reproduce, but some species are capable of breeding in stagnant, standing water such as blocked gutters, disused watering cans and bird baths.

This species, the Asian Tiger Mosquito, has managed to spread herself throughout the world. She is an aggressive day-time biter, and has adapted well to colder climates.

Creature Feature #93: Cane Toad

Native to Central and South America, the Cane Toad is a large, terrestrial amphibian. His name is derived for the purpose he was put to - released amongst the sugar cane, he would make a meal of any pests that might damage it without, himself, damaging the cane. He was introduced to Australia, amongst other countries, as an agent of biological control. A fast breeder, the Cane Toad is also toxic, which can be fatal to any predators that might eat him. These two traits have made his colonisation of foreign climes a swift success and he is now rated amongst the top#100 most Invasive Species.

Creature Feature #84: Carp

The Carp Family includes numerous species of oily, freshwater fish. This fellow is the Common Carp, naturally widespread across Europe and Asia, he has also been domesticated, insofar as fish can be domesticated, and introduced into various waterways throughout the world. Here he has made a bit of a pest of himself. He is an ominvore, and rather a messy eater: destroying, uprooting submerged vegetation, and his excretion contains undigested plant matter which fouls, raising the nutritional level of the water and encouraging algae growth. He also devours the eggs of other fish and is considered one of the #100 worst invasive species in the world.