Wikipedia:Main Page history/2011 March 22

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Today's featured article
The Pied Currawong is a medium-sized black passerine bird native to eastern Australia and Lord Howe Island. One of three currawong species in the genus Strepera, it is closely related to the butcherbirds and Australian Magpie of the family Artamidae. Six subspecies are recognised. It is a robust crow-like bird averaging around 48 cm (19 in) in length, black or sooty grey-black in plumage with white undertail and wing patches, yellow irises, and a heavy bill. The male and female are similar in appearance. Known for its melodious calls, the species' name currawong is of indigenous origin. Within its range, the Pied Currawong is generally sedentary, although populations at higher altitudes relocate to lower areas during the cooler months. It is omnivorous, with a diet that includes a wide variety of berries and seeds, invertebrates, bird eggs and juvenile birds. It is a predator which has adapted well to urbanization and can be found in parks and gardens as well as rural woodland. The habitat includes all kinds of forested areas, although mature forests are preferred for breeding. Roosting, nesting and the bulk of foraging take place in trees, in contrast with the ground foraging behaviour of its relative the Australian Magpie. (more...) Recently featured: John Michael Wright – William of Tyre – Seattle Sounders FC Archive – By email – More featured articles...
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From Wikipedia's newest articles: ... that Samuel Rayner, who painted the Derby Exhibition in 1839 (pictured), had one of his paintings exhibited in the Royal Academy when he was only 15? ... that Romania's Elena Fidatov is one of the most prolific runners at the World Cross Country Championships, having competed on 13 occasions? ... that Polish neurologist Włodzimierz Godłowski was one of the victims of the Katyn massacre? ... that "Losing a Whole Year", one of Third Eye Blind's "catchiest" songs, stayed on Billboard's alternative chart for 14 weeks? ... that the steam-powered foghorn was first demonstrated successfully in 1859 on Partridge Island in the Port of Saint John? ... that Albert Nutter took 600 wickets in first-class cricket? ... that The Jo Stafford Show and The Jo Stafford Show were produced seven years apart in the United States and Britain? Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news
Nikolai Andrianov Nikolai Andrianov (pictured), winner of the most medals in men's Olympic gymnastics, dies at the age of 58. Voters in Egypt approve a new constitution at a referendum, as a part of the overall reform. The Alpine Skiing World Cup concludes with Ivica Kostelić of Croatia and Maria Riesch of Germany winning the overall titles. French, British and American forces launch attacks on pro-Gaddafi troops in Libya in support of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973. Thousands of people protest across Syria in the country's largest demonstrations in decades. In rugby union, England win the Six Nations Championship. Earthquake and tsunami in Japan Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events...
On this day...
March 22: World Water Day 1638 – The Massachusetts Bay Colony expelled Anne Hutchinson from its ranks for dissenting from Puritan orthodoxy. 1739 – Under orders from Shah of Iran Nader Shah (pictured) to plunder Delhi, India, Persian troops killed at least 20,000 Indians, forcing Mughal Emperor Muhammad Shah to beg for mercy. 1913 – Phan Xich Long, the self-proclaimed Emperor of Vietnam, was arrested for organising a revolt against the colonial rule of French Indochina, which was nevertheless carried out by his supporters the following day. 1984 – In what would be the longest and costliest criminal trial in United States history, teachers at the McMartin preschool in Manhattan Beach, California, were falsely charged with satanic ritual abuse of schoolchildren. 1995 – Russian cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov of the Soyuz programme returned from the Mir space station after 437 days in space, setting a record for the longest spaceflight. More anniversaries: March 21 – March 22 – March 23 Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries It is now March 22 2011 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Today's featured picture

The Giralda is a 104.5 m (343 ft) tall bell tower for the Seville Cathedral in Seville, Andalusia, Spain. It was originally constructed as a minaret in 1198, when Seville was ruled by the Almohad Caliphate. After the city was taken by the Christians in the Reconquista, the city's mosque was converted to a church. The upper third of the structure was completed during the Spanish Renaissance.

Photo: David Iliff

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