The long-tailed ground roller is a bird species found in arid spiny
forests near the coast of southwestern Madagascar. Requiring shade and a
deep layer of leaves on the ground, it has low population densities
throughout its habitat. This species of ground roller relies primarily
on its strong legs, as its wings are relatively weak. It is a medium-
sized bird with a plump silhouette, dark brown upperparts with black
streaks, light gray underparts, a white throat framed by black malar
stripes, a black breastband, and sky-blue feathers at the edge of its
wings and long tail. Calls are rarely made outside of the breeding
season. It feeds primarily on invertebrates, including ants, beetles,
butterflies, and worms, which it finds by searching through deep leaf
litter or by remaining still and watching attentively. It is classified
as a vulnerable species; the forests where it lives are not protected,
and it is losing habitat to slash-and-burn agriculture, charcoal
collection, and logging.
Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-tailed_ground_roller>
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Today's selected anniversaries:
955:
The forces of Otto the Great defeated the Obotrite federation in
the Battle on the Raxa, marking the high point of Otto's reign.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_on_the_Raxa>
1869:
Girton College, one of the 31 constituent colleges of the
University of Cambridge and England's first residential college for
women, was founded.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Girton_College,_Cambridge>
1940:
World War II: Nazi Governor-General Hans Frank established the
Warsaw Ghetto, the largest Jewish ghetto in occupied Poland.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warsaw_Ghetto>
1964:
With the success of the 596 nuclear weapons testing, China
became the world's fifth nuclear power.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/596_(nuclear_test)>
2013:
In Laos's deadliest air accident, Lao Airlines Flight 301
crashed into the Mekong River, resulting in the deaths of all 49 people
aboard.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lao_Airlines_Flight_301>
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Wiktionary's word of the day:
armshouse:
(MLE) Bloodshed, violence.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/armshouse>
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Wikiquote quote of the day:
As nightfall does not come all at once, neither does oppression.
In both instances, there is a twilight when everything remains seemingly
unchanged. And it is in such twilight that we all must be most aware of
change in the air — however slight — lest we become unwitting
victims of the darkness.
--William O. Douglas
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/William_O._Douglas>
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