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City life may help Darwin's finches survive bloodsucking flies

24 March 2023

In the Galapagos Islands, finches that live near cities have higher survival rates against parasitic flies than those who live in the country
House finch nest with eggs

Birds use cigarette butts for chemical warfare against ticks

26 June 2017

Urban house finches incorporate more fibres from cigarette butts into their nests if they have live ticks in them, suggesting the toxic chemicals in the butts may deter the parasites

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