10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 5, 2012

That is very cold for the south of Germany. This thrush is extremely common in urban and suburban Germany and one of the most conspicuous bird species here, comparable to the American Robin in North America. The Usutu Virus has spread considerably in central Europe over the last 10 years.

Germany 161

Germany Blackbirds 2006 Denmark 161

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 26, 2012

But this is a bird blog so I will stick to the birds here and simply share five things that I learned while birding in Germany or, to be more exact, while birding in Berlin. Mandarin Ducks are countable in Germany. What should I have learned while birding in Germany that I failed to learn? Nothing, that’s what!

Germany 164

Germany Ducks Birds New York 164

Critter News

OCTOBER 28, 2010

Some employees from firms in Britain, France, Germany, Sweden and Switzerland had "puppy killer" and "scum" daubed on their houses. Tags: europe activism huntingdon animal rights. The cost of the damage and increased security measures amounted to 12.6 million pounds, the court heard.

Animal Rights 100

Animal Rights Europe Rights Animal Cruelty 100

Critter News

DECEMBER 22, 2008

It really sucks to be a factory farm pig in Europe. In one of the biggest undercover inquiries into pig-farming, CIWF visited 60 farms across five big pork-producing states, Spain, the Netherlands, Germany, Hungary and Britain. Overall, Spain had the worst conditions, followed by the Netherlands, Germany, Hungary and Britain.

Pigs 100

Pigs Europe Investigation Factory Farm 100

10,000 Birds

JULY 24, 2014

Germany is underrated as a birding destination. Nestled right in the middle of Europe, we have a little bit of everything, a nice cross section of Europe’s avifauna. Greater Rheas, a species the Germans call Nandu, are very popular in Germany and frequently kept in zoos as well as private enclosures.

Germany 252

Germany Birds 2000 South America 252

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 6, 2019

As I mentioned last week, my wife, son, and daughter-in-law spent much of the month of October in Europe. Visiting the continent after the end of most of the autumn migration meant that the number of bird species I could see in northern France, Switzerland, southern Germany, and Austria was much reduced.

Austria 127

Austria Switzerland Europe Geese 127

10,000 Birds

MAY 27, 2024

Given how far Hokkaido is from Europe, it seems a bit surprising how many bird species wintering on this Japanese island have a name starting with “Eurasian” Or how many of these species I have also seen in my parents’ garden in Germany. One would hope that in Germany, the situation is a bit different.

Research 130

Research Germany Iran Humane 130

10,000 Birds

APRIL 2, 2017

Here in central Europe, dippers – more precisely the White-throated or European Dipper – are rather common breeding birds in many areas. In Germany for example, they are breeding in practically every hilly or mountainous region south of the North German Plain and are not really rare if they occur in a certain region.

Germany 100

Germany 2016 Hamburgers Austria 100

10,000 Birds

JULY 25, 2014

When I started birding in earnest during the 1980s in south-west Germany, no one talked about Egyptian Geese. During the early 1990s, rumours surrounding the occurrence of a few Egyptian Geese in far north-western Germany emerged, the result of an increasing and spreading Dutch feral population. This was great! I was in shock.

Germany 150

Germany Geese Netherlands Kenya 150

10,000 Birds

MAY 21, 2020

It can still be an entirely opposite end of a continent, but – if you are residing in Europe – the flight can be as short as one (from Germany) to two hours (from UK). I am talking of the very heart of the Balkans and the final birding frontier of Europe: Serbia.

Serbia 317

Serbia Sanctuary Birds Bosnia 317

10,000 Birds

MARCH 15, 2015

And the squirrel I will post about is indeed what it seems : a cute, little, ferocious, nest-predatory, butt-kicking, cuddly and adorable native critter of Europe, the Eurasian Red Squirrel. Germany, like most of Europe and very much unlike North America, is home to only one species of squirrel. And aren’t you glad it is.

Squirrels 162

Squirrels North America Germany Europe 162

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 21, 2016

I am not entirely sure whether most birders outside Germany know or realize that Germany still has a decent population of one of Europe’s most attractive and desired bird species: the Great Bustard Otis tarda. Now that I might have wetted your appetite, here’s where and how to find them in Germany: 1.

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Germany Abandon Abandoning Abandonment 101

10,000 Birds

MARCH 5, 2017

However, one of the little sweet candies Germany still enjoys today from its own disastrous colonial past is the Common Guillemot, or Common Murre. Germany has only one high seas island it calls its own, the mighty (from a birding perspective) island of Heligoland. km²) in the German Bight, approximately 70 km off the coast of Germany.

Germany 100

Germany Denmark Namibia Breeding 100

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 30, 2020

Chamois is an agile goat-antelope with short hooked horns, found in mountainous areas of Europe from Spain to the Caucasus. Predictably, it contained few surprises (and no lifers either) as Germany took lock-down regulations seriously and travel, even locally, was next to impossible throughout most of the year. Preposterous!

2020 241

2020 Birds Costa Rica Germany 241

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 15, 2020

Mandarin Ducks, Munich, Germany. Sure, it is an introduced species in Germany. These two shorebirds are exceedingly common in western Europe. So my favorites for 2019 includes a good number of birds that are rather common elsewhere, but were firsts for me. Plus a few truly difficult species. But they were still Mandarin Ducks!

Austria 151

Austria Spain 2019 Birds 151

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 8, 2017

Birding in Germany was okay during the first half of the year but essentially came to an end in June due to several issues, most significantly a move to a different appartment within Heidelberg. You can see my birding activities abroad and within Germany on the maps at the top of this post. Great Bustard , Havelland, Germany.

2016 101

2016 Germany Italy Netherlands 101

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 31, 2018

The other post is Jochen’s tale of trying to find a Lesser Scaup in Europe. Birders there had to invent games to make seeing a scaup interesting: Because of all the places it could have called its winter home, it chose the Rhine separating Huningue and Weil am Rhein, the border triangle of Switzerland, France and Germany.

Ducks 212

Ducks New Zealand France Germany 212

10,000 Birds

JUNE 2, 2013

Purple Herons Ardea purpurea are an old world element of the Ardeidae and range widely throughout sub-Saharan Africa, South and Southeast Asia, and parts of Europe and central Asia. Within Europe, they are mostly found in the South (around the Mediterranean), and the East. Birds Germany herons and egrets Waghäusel'

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Germany Asia Europe Africa 154

10,000 Birds

MAY 31, 2015

Germany is currently experiencing something for which the English have no nice expression. The specificities of languages … Anyway, so Germany this year is essentially filled with mice, like the one shown here, which – so far as I know – is a vole where you come from. You’re not a vole or a gerbil.

Fox 164

Fox Rodents Gophers Germany 164

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 1, 2012

Here in Germany, we don’t wish we had. Yes, Germany has parrots, or parakeets to be more precise. Unlike North America, Germany has never had naturally occurring psittacines that went extinct, and the one we have is a true and complete invasive alien introduction. Because we never have had.

Germany 249

Germany Netherlands Zoos Geese 249

10,000 Birds

JULY 3, 2012

Citril Finches used to be rather common on the sub-alpine meadows of the Black Forest, but their population is undergoing a serious decline and it is currently feared they will soon be extinct in Germany outside the German Alps. Therefore, a grim reminder to all birders in Europe: look after your songbirds!

Europe 162

Europe Germany 2011 Rights 162

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 28, 2014

After my grim exposing you last month to Europe’s fifty shades of brown, I felt it incumbent upon me to right my wrong by introducing you to Europe’s most attractive bird, the Red-billed Leiothrix. Celebrated awesomeness: Trips Europe invasive species Italy' Back view awesomeness!

Italy 182

Italy Europe France Family 182

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 11, 2016

Of course such a clear case of misjudgement would never have happened here in the Olde Europe. Here in Europe, we have the dull green and challenging leaf warblers of the genus Phylloscopus. We are more careful, more restrained and mindful, and we have been taught to consider the consequences of our actions.

Hawaii 161

Hawaii Albatross Europe America 161

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 18, 2016

In fact – and I am not making this up – I was very upset on my first visit to the Great Bustards in Germany when glancing with naked eyes over the meadows, I noticed a few large white pieces of plastic garbage that the wind had apparently blown into the nature reserve and I angrily thought that someone really should go remove them.

Germany 154

Germany Birds Europe 154

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 1, 2024

But not in Europe either. Not an in-vitro photo. I have probably written this before, but my feeling is that once you can look at Daurian Redstarts without getting somewhat excited no matter how common they are, you are probably nearing the end of your useful life as a birder or bird photographer.

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Birds Research Science Europe 199

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 21, 2021

Looks quite different from the Eurasian Jay I have seen in Germany, which I found is par for the course for this bird – it apparently has 8 races and 33 subspecies. I am not sure whether a jay from Europe (with its lack of white face) would be discriminated against if showing up at Laifengshan. Possible, I guess.

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China Birds Zebras Germany 264

10,000 Birds

MAY 23, 2021

Jochen Roeder, a former fellow 10,000 Birds writer who lives in Germany, says according to EU nature conservation directives it’s illegal to cut down trees during the spring and summer unless they are checked by an expert for nesting birds or resting bats. Ah, Europe! No wildlife rescue required.

Wildlife Rehabilitation 264

Wildlife Rehabilitation Wildlife Game Laws 264

10,000 Birds

JULY 7, 2013

We, the people of Germany, have had enough of this nonsense. So there you go, Europe! Birds Germany magpies weather' The awful mess that’s been going on for the last few years is not getting better in spite of all the predictions and all our efforts. As a matter of fact, it is getting worse by the day.

Algeria 148

Algeria 2013 Germany Mali 148

10,000 Birds

JUNE 28, 2015

You see, the Great (White) Heron/Egret is a polytypic species with four subspecies: alba in Europe, egretta in the Americas, melanorhynchos in Africa, and modesta in Asia and Oceania. Until a friend sends you pictures of a very small Great Egret in Germany in winter – with bright pink legs, a black bill and a turquoise cere.

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Asia Europe Germany Breeding 182

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 7, 2016

Quite recently, it has started to expand inland, along the river Rhone and to the South of Germany, where it is now an uncommon but conspicious breeder. I’ll start with the Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis. So there you have it: conservative taxonomy leads to unfortunate common names.

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Europe Spain Italy Ireland 127

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 4, 2013

It breeds in a broad and not quite coherent band from Iceland in the west through central Europe and southern Scandinavia all the way to eastern Russia, wintering in Africa, parts of India, and Southeast Asia to Australia. Birds Germany godwits shorebirds' Somehow – given our current weather – I can relate. .

Germany 177

Germany Russia Iceland India 177

10,000 Birds

MARCH 25, 2011

The Black Stork ( Ciconia nigra ) has a very wide distribution in the Old World, ranging from Spain (an isolated population) and northern France through central and eastern Europe all across northern and central Asia to the Pacific coast of Russia and China. It was therefore well worth having to clean my desk of the coffee I spilled.

Germany 151

Germany Asia China Russia 151

10,000 Birds

JULY 18, 2012

Its natural range in Europe was restricted the the surroundings of the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea, and in Asia it ranged from Asia Minor to central China. Contradicting this relentless shooting were efforts to establish feral populations in many regions of Europe, both within and outside its natural range. Now, enjoy the pictures.

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Feral Europe Asia North America 170

10,000 Birds

MARCH 16, 2014

Crested T**s are my favourites amongst Germany’s six regular species. Crested T**s are rather common here in Germany and can be found anywhere so long as there are a few pines around. Which I think kind of backfired. But anyway, as I mentioned at the beginning of this post: this is about the birds, and the birds only.

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Germany Europe Birds Species 165

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 6, 2022

the development of field-based ornithological research in Europe and Great Britain; a quick step back through the history to look at bird protection, conservation, and our precarious future, with a focus on Birkhead’s long-term (50 years!) Birkhead knows that these are sensitive topics.

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Dissection Birds Research Europe 229

10,000 Birds

JUNE 22, 2011

After all, Hooded Crows are a bird of eastern and northern Europe, Central Asia, and the Middle East and are not known as long distance migrants. Prior to that trip to Kazakhstan the only other time I had seen Hooded Crows was in Germany in 2007, when my best looks at a Hooded Crow were along the shore of the Baltic Sea.

New York 223

New York Kazakhstan North America New York City 223

10,000 Birds

JULY 21, 2013

They were once a widespread and diverse group, however, with many fossils known from what are now North America and Europe.

Kenya 175

Kenya Parrots Africa North America 175