Our Daily Planet: Methane Eating Microbes and Bird Deaths

Each weekday morning, OurAmazingPlanet takes the pulse of the Earth, reporting on natural phenomena and exploration news from around the globe.

Methane Diet: The massive amount of methane released during the BP oil spill was almost entirely gobbled up by microbes.

Louisiana Land Loss: The Bayou State lost 2,300 square miles of coastal wetland and shoreline property over the past 70 years. [Related: 5 Years After Katrina, Louisiana Ecosystems On the Ropes .]

Oh, Snow: Snow is falling across the Northeast today. [Related: Blow-by-Blow: Smowmageddon vs. Christmas Blizzard of 2010 .]

Blame La Nina: The floods in Australia and other recent severe weather can be blamed on a strong La Nina. But is it linked to climate change?

Bird Deaths: Mass bird and fish deaths actually occur quite regularly, say scientists.

Previously on Our Daily Planet: China's National Parks and Disappearing Lakes

Reach OurAmazingPlanet staff writer Brett Israel at bisrael@techmedianetwork.com. Follow him on Twitter @btisrael.

Brett Israel was a staff writer for Live Science with a focus on environmental issues. He holds a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and molecular biology from The University of Georgia, a master’s degree in journalism from New York University, and has studied doctorate-level biochemistry at Emory University.