10,000 Birds

MAY 1, 2013

People ascribe near mythic status to the members of the family Delphinidae (and other related families). If you love the idea of swimming with dolphins, New Zealand is a great place to do it. Not, may I hurry to add, because I had some issue with swimming in the ocean in New Zealand on South Island in near winter.

Dolphins 155

Dolphins Sharks New Zealand Albatross 155

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 3, 2014

As New Zealand’s beat writer I think I’ve done an okay job of discussing the birding of an entirely different island for most of the year, so it’s only fair that I keep that winning streak going by talking about my target for the trip. A beaked whale. Any beaked whale. Hammerhead shark.

Sharks 172

Sharks Leopards Whales Whaling 172

10,000 Birds

JULY 30, 2014

Not forever mind, I’ll still be living here in New Zealand and carrying on as its beat writer here (I may even write about New Zealand again some time). In California I smelt the breath a Blue Whale as it passed feet beneath my boat. Ugandan Mangabeys were part of my family once.

Uganda 161

Uganda Sharks Africa New Zealand 161

4 The Love Of Animals

MARCH 17, 2011

Elephants, whales, hippopotamuses, giraffes, and alligators use low-frequency sounds to communicate over long distances, often miles; and bats, dolphins, whales, frogs, and various rodents use high-frequency sounds to find food, communicate with others, and navigate. A Grateful Whale.

Emotional 100

Emotional Animal Whales Whaling 100

10,000 Birds

MARCH 15, 2011

Nice. ((** all names have been changed to protect identities and have been substituted with (almost) randomly chosen substitutes suitable for a family of Alpine Accentors.)) Dale studied scarlet macaws, and worked in their conservation, for three years in southern Costa Rica, followed by a year in the Caribbean working on Whale Sharks.

2011 209

2011 Breeders Breeding Deer 209

10,000 Birds

JUNE 15, 2011

Another native bird that quickly showed itself to me in the capital was the Polynesian Triller , a member of the cuckoo-shrike family. The hotel we stayed on was on the shore, from which you could watching passing seabirds, including serene White Terns , as well as summering Humpback Whales!

Tonga 162

Tonga Fiji New Zealand Parrots 162