10,000 Birds

JULY 18, 2022

I do not get too many comments on my blog posts, but it seems that whenever I write about jacanas – whether in Africa, Australia, or Asia – there is an unusually high number of reactions (well, maybe one or two rather than the usual zero) from female readers. This Cattle Egret has just read a paper stating that it would be 3.6

Birds 162

Birds South Korea Japan Abandon 162

10,000 Birds

MARCH 1, 2016

Then, we became birders again, noting Common Mynas and Eastern Cattle Egrets on the terraced lawns, Yellow-footed Pigeons, European-collared and Red-collared Doves in the trees bordering the garden squares. India was not on my list of places to go in 2016. We all participated in the photo party, I admit, plain old tourists for a few minutes.

India 188

India Tigers Birds Owls 188

10,000 Birds

MAY 8, 2013

Despite filling very similar garbage disposal related niches, the vultures in North America and the vultures in Eurasia/Africa are really not that closely related. Large, hulking, and menacing, the Old World Vultures , who reach their greatest diversity in sub-Saharan Africa, had a reputation, maybe undeserved, for viciousness.

California Condor 181

California Condor Turkey North America Jordan 181

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 28, 2013

We follow the tire tracks in an off-white, salty soil and then, without a word of warning, our guide/driver turns into the bushes, driving left and right… until one and then another Short-eared Owl flushes in front of us. Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis. The area is overgrown with low, thorny bushes. Grey Heron Ardea cinerea.

India 223

India Birds Eagles Boars 223

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 20, 2012

Thus, the cattle we raise for meat and dairy are sometimes called Bos taurus while the extinct wild form is always called Bos primigenius. This is the time of year that we rightfully contemplate the noble Turkey. This is not entirely unknown among domestic animals, but many domesticates have no living wild version.

Turkey 202

Turkey Columbus Spain Fowl 202

Animal Ethics

SEPTEMBER 30, 2009

The Argument from Human Grain Shortage All of the clearly moral arguments for vegetarianism given so far have been in terms of animal rights and suffering. It is argued that beef cattle and hogs are protein factories in reserve. New moral vegetarianism, however, rests on moral arguments couched in terms of human welfare.

Vegetarian 40

Vegetarian Morals Meat Cattle 40

10,000 Birds

JULY 10, 2012

All the inhabited continents except Africa have experienced bird extinctions; however the 2012 update of the IUCN Red List shows a startling, but not altogether unexpected, trend in that more and more of our bird species are facing extinction.

Endangered Species 189

Endangered Species Species South Africa Morocco 189

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 10, 2022

While it is laudable to point out the plight of homeless woodpeckers, this is hardly the right subject for an upbeat bird photo contest. Greater Flamingo (Cape Town, South Africa). Cattle Egret (Nanhui, China). Every bird photo should tell a story, not just show a bird. My wife tells me this all the time.

China 214

China India South Africa Homelessness 214

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 11, 2012

However South Africa doesn’t meet either of these criteria, but one special factor nevertheless carries it into this auspicious list of 17 nations – the Cape Florisitic Kingdom. The Southern Double-collared Sunbird is a common denizen of the West Coast of South Africa where-ever flowering plants abound.

South Africa 231

South Africa Africa New Zealand Asia 231

10,000 Birds

JUNE 20, 2019

We are entering the mixed colony of 11 species ( Grey , Squacco , Purple and Black-crowned Night Herons ; Great , Little and, recently, Cattle Egrets ; Eurasian Spoonbill (below) and Glossy Ibis ; Pygmy and Great Cormorant ). These visits are strictly regulated and the birds are habituated to people, showing no reaction to our presence.

Greece 194

Greece Pelicans Buffalo Fish 194

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 4, 2013

In the past I have attributed some of this conflict to differences between the conservation mindset and that of animal rights/animal welfare. The tigers keep wandering out of their reserve and taking cattle from nearby villages, taking what little these already poor people have. The conservation value of hunting in Africa is a reality.

Tigers 172

Tigers Hunting Game Protection 172

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 3, 2017

From my poolside viewpoint I can encompass four countries: Egypt where I am and, over the sea, Israel to the far left (there’s a birding mecca of Eilat), Jordan in the middle and finally the endless deserts of Saudi Arabia to the right. Focusing… Cattle Egrets ! Oddly, not a single gull in sight.

Egypt 106

Egypt Saudi Arabia Compassion 106