10,000 Birds

MAY 24, 2018

Cows are considered sacred by majority of Hindus so cow meat is generally not consumed. This results in the cow’s corpse being left to be fed on by vultures. Of the estimated 500 million cattle in India, only 4% were destined for consumption by humans as meat. No one knew why they were dying.

India 136

India Stray Dog Cows Rats 136

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 27, 2014

The official definition of CR status says the species could be gone within ten years, or could lose 80 per cent of its population within three generations – whichever comes first. That can be traced back in time to 1875, when Alfred Brehm wrote that he had found Sociable Lapwings only alongside the domestic cattle.

India 249

India Sudan Ukraine Camels 249

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 11, 2018

Cattle fields surrounded the small town, the cows forming dark silhouettes against the rapidly graying skies. We felt in high spirits after a gorgeous afternoon in the grassland, tallying up over 20 species of birds, including three lifers for me. Add another species to the daily list!

Kansas 115

Kansas Pelicans ALA Cows 115

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 24, 2012

Now, seeing Sociable Lapwing , a species that is critically endangered and thought to number roughly 11,000 individuals, would be a treat any day but to see several pairs on their breeding grounds? Above is the area where the three pairs we observed were nesting which we were told was rather typical for the species.

Kazakhstan 129

Kazakhstan Cows 2009 Endangered Species 129

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 19, 2014

Whales are cows. The point is, of course, that whales are not cows. Whales emerge from within the larger group of mammals that includes cattle, deer, pigs, camels, with camels being the most deeply rooted. (So Even though whales are cows. Cows do not. So go read that for sure, and revel in the excellent graphics.

Camels 202

Camels Whales Whaling Apes 202

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 29, 2016

The proximity of both slopes also facilitates seeing a lot of different species in a short span because the montane barrier has resulted in differences in terms of species and habitats. This small antbird species is common in Panama to Ecuador but rare in Costa Rica.

Costa Rica 165

Costa Rica San Jose Panama Birds 165

10,000 Birds

JULY 27, 2011

I’m only supposed to document one specific species, but I also note the other birds because in a 4 hour period, I’m lucky if I see the target species for 15 minutes. Cattle wandered this pasture along with me (one cow even attempted to taste my carbon fiber tripod). The first week it was a Sedge Wren.

Birds 162

Birds Cattle Blackbirds North America 162

10,000 Birds

MARCH 23, 2016

This property is located in northern Butte County which is nearing the (dwindling) northern most historic range for this species in California. This property is also a site with vernal pools and uses cattle grazing for vegetation control.

Owls 101

Owls California 2010 Colorado 101

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 17, 2017

In early August this year, I saw 77 species here (69 on the lake, plus 8 more in the surrounding areas) but barely more than a thousand individuals. I pass the first of several dead cows. A few Lesser Kestrels by the dyke wall, then a Black-eared Wheatear at some cattle fencing. Eurasian Spoonbills. Soon the lake ends.

Greece 194

Greece Killing Pelicans Eagles 194

10,000 Birds

JULY 18, 2022

Unfortunately, in the science of language, this does not sound particularly raunchy but rather like a rational decision: “A rare species such as the Chinese Pond Heron might choose heterospecific mates rather than abandoning all chances of reproduction.” 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 11, 2011

We remember starlings not skylarks, House Sparrows not Eurasian Tree Sparrows , Cattle Egrets not… well, whatever we’ve forgotten because it didn’t do as well as the Cattle Egrets. Especially of all the species that had been introduced to the US. And after all, some birds have to expand their range sometimes.

Montana 137

Montana 2011 New York Bahamas 137

10,000 Birds

MARCH 18, 2011

The field site I am assigned to is located in one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world and home to a particularly rich avifauna that numbers well over 500 species. Hundreds of riotously colored birds representing 14 species of macaws and parrots flock and frolic together in less than fifty meters of forest canopy.

Peru 255

Peru Parrots 2011 South America 255

Animal Ethics

FEBRUARY 15, 2009

If beef cattle who could not feel pain were developed, then it would be permissible to eat them. KBJ: Martin seems to think that people who abstain from meat on the ground that meat-eating causes pain would not eat “beef cattle” even if they could not feel pain. What should our moral attitude be toward eating members of these species?

Morals 40

Morals Vegetarian Meat Killing 40

10,000 Birds

MARCH 19, 2011

Making the quiz even more diabolical was the fact that two species of parrot do frequent Queens – we have a large population of Monk Parakeets and a small and seldom seen flock of Mitred Parakeets. Thanks for visiting!

Bald Eagle 113

Bald Eagle Zoos 2011 Parrots 113

Animal Ethics

FEBRUARY 25, 2008

What we do to animals shows how we feel about other species. So why would they not insist that the cow that became their steak was treated humanely? Peters Paso Robles, Calif., And it is not just at the slaughterhouses but at the factory farms where these animals are tortured from the very beginning of their lives to the horrible end.

New York Times 40

New York Times New York 2008 Factory Farm 40