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Roadkill Forcing Cliff Swallows To Evolve

Posted by Unknown on from the also-evolved-laser-eyes dept.

sciencehabit writes "Cliff swallows that build nests that dangle precariously from highway overpasses have a lower chance of becoming roadkill than in years past thanks to a shorter wingspan that lets them dodge oncoming traffic. That's the conclusion of a new study based on 3 decades of data collected on one population of the birds. The results suggest that shorter wingspan has been selected for over this time period because of the evolutionary pressure put on the population by cars."

3 of 387 comments (clear)

  1. Does this mean by NEDHead · · Score: 5, Funny

    If I keep on smacking my kids, their arms will get shorter?

  2. You're Welcome by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...And this is yet another proof that God exists. My prayer circle has spent the last 10 years asking for Divine intervention to halt the senseless deaths of road-adjacent animals. Thanks to our unceasing intervention, He knew to trim a wee bit off the tip of every bird's wings (gradually, of course, so that mommy birds would still recognize their babies - and left longer wings on the sinner birds so that they would die and serve as a warning to others). Praise Jesus!

  3. Bridgekeeper by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    What is the new air speed velocity of an unladen cliff swallow?