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Mangrove swallow perching

The mangrove swallow (Tachycineta albilinea) is a bird in the swallow family that breeds in coastal regions of Mexico and Central America. It is a seasonal breeder and is territorial when breeding, much like the related tree swallow. Its nests are frequently found near water, no more than 2 metres (7 ft) above the ground. It usually forages close to the nest when feeding its chicks, but will go much further when foraging for itself. In between foraging attempts, it perches near water. It subsists primarily on a diet of flying insects, including dragonflies and bees, unusually large prey for a bird of its size. It has blue-green upperparts, white underparts, a white streak above the eye, and blackish flight and tail feathers. This swallow's song is a soft trilling, with a rolled jeerrt call, and a sharp alarm note. With a slowly decreasing population of at least 500,000 individuals, the mangrove swallow is classified as a species of least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. (Full article...)

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Lightning rod umbrella
Lightning rod umbrella

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Park Geun-hye

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March 10

Uranus and some of its moons
Uranus and some of its moons

Agnes Blannbekin (d. 1315) · Lillian Wald (b. 1867) · Muhammad Sayyid Tantawy (d. 2010)

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South Africa women at Taunton, 2009 ICC Women's World Twenty20
South Africa women in 2009

The South Africa women's national cricket team has played five Test matches since 1997, and 71 Twenty20 Internationals (T20I) since their first such contest in 2007. The team has represented South Africa in international women's cricket since 1960, when they hosted England, contesting four Test matches. Their next officially recognised series was against New Zealand, more than eleven years later. In 1977, they were excluded from competing in international sporting events, when the Commonwealth of Nations signed the Gleneagles Agreement as part of the international campaign against apartheid. Although the men's national team returned to international cricket in 1991, the women's team did not compete again until 1997, when they toured Ireland and England. Since then, the team has played regularly in One Day Internationals. South Africa have played four different sides in women's Test cricket, with England their most frequent opponent, having faced them in six Tests. South Africa have similarly faced England more times than any other team in women's One Day International cricket. (Full list...)

Today's featured picture

Micrometer

A micrometer is a device incorporating a calibrated screw, widely used for precise measurement of components in mechanical engineering and machining. Micrometers are usually, but not always, in the form of calipers (opposing ends joined by a frame). The spindle is a very accurately machined screw and the object to be measured is placed between the spindle and the anvil. The spindle is moved by turning the ratchet knob or thimble until the object to be measured is lightly touched by both the spindle and the anvil.

Photograph: Lucasbosch

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