Parrots invade a town

Hilario Ascasubi, a town in the south of Argentina’s Buenos Aires province, is facing invasion by thousands of noisy cliff parrots.

The giant colony of parrots has been around for several years now, and is growing fast, as is the level of property damage they cause.

The green-feathered birds bite on electrical and internet wires, driving electricity providers crazy in a never-ending race to keep networks in working order. Bird droppings on sidewalks and streets are also a big problem, as is the constant noise the birds make night and day.

Many of the 5,000 inhabitants of Hilario Ascasubi are at their wits’ end, claiming that they can’t go on living alongside the birds, but there isn’t much the local authorities can do.

Chickens lay white-yolk eggs

Photos of boi­led eggs with white yolks have gone viral on Japanese social media, sparking curiosity about their authenticity. The trend began with a post by Tsuda Junko, editor-in-chief of the online magazine Design no Hikidashi, showcasing a boiled egg cut in half, revealing a yolk almost as white as the egg white.

This variety of Okinawa eggs, known as ‘Shirotama,’ sourced from the Nakamura Horticultural Farm in Itoman City, the southernmost chicken farm in Japan. The unusual yolk colour is believed to result from supplementing the chickens’ feed with rice, which turns the yolk white when cooked. These eggs are commonly used to prepare white rice omelette and white tamagoyaki.

“Super ants” invade countries in Europe

Germany, France and Switzerland are struggling to contain an invasion of Tapinoma magnum ants, a species deemed ‘virtually impossible to eliminate.’

Originally found in the Mediterranean and North Africa, these tiny ants, measuring about 3mm, have formed super colonies, with hundreds of queens, throughout Europe.

Residents in affected areas report extensive damage to infrastructure as the ants eat through walls, pavements and cables, and complain of bites to children and pets. Local authorities have tried various methods to destroy the nests, but the ants continue to thrive, leading to power outages and internet disruptions.

Experts attribute the invasion to global warming, as these ants prefer hot climates. Despite their adaptability, entomologists note that they are most vulnerable in winter. But the challenge of eradicating them remains.

Lost Lake — Oregon’s disappearing body of water

Every summer, Oregon’s Lost Lake disappears into volcanic tunnels, re-emerging in the fall as streams fill the meadow below. Located in the Willamette National Forest, the lake reaches its fullest in mid-winter, but dries up by summer when its water drains through two ancient volcanic holes.

These holes, formed 12,000 years ago, allow water to seep into a large aquifer. Lost Lake attracts many summer visitors, but park authorities struggle to prevent people from trying to plug the holes with debris, which could lead to flooding and disrupt the surrounding ecosystem.

Published in Dawn, Young World, October 26th, 2024