Our Daily Planet: Return of the Buzzards and Hawaii Tsunami Cleanup

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

Return of the Buzzards: In an annual tradition, the first buzzard of the year was spotted at 8:28 a.m. in Hinckley, Ohio, followed by dozens more. That's a sign that spring is near, say locals.

Bear Relocated: Having a bear hibernate and give birth under the deck of a high-end vacation home isn't the best way to attract guests. So biologists moved the momma bear and her cubs to a custom-built, camo-covered den with wall-to-wall straw on a ridge overlooking a lake.

Flood Fears: Despite heavy rain, the threat of major flooding in northern New Jersey has waned. The Ohio River is also rapidly receding. [Related: Flood Watch: Where Did All This Water Come From?]

Whale Shark Tagged: For the first time, a whale shark has been satellite-tagged. Scientists will follow the shark, tagged off the coast of India, on its migration.

Tsunami Cleanup: The South Kona reef in Hawaii was hit hard by the tsunami. Scuba divers are working to remove the debris littered throughout the water. [In Images: Midway Atoll Socked by Japan Tsunami ]

Previously on Our Daily Planet: Kilauea Wildfire and New Tsunami Warning Center Our Daily Planet: Po the Panda and Oil Spill's Air Pollution

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.