10,000 Birds

MAY 20, 2014

The Horned Guan is not just one of, if not THE standout birds of Mexico and Guatemala, but of the entire world. Endemic to mountaintop cloud forest patches in Chiapas and Guatemala, perhaps occurring at a maximum of six locations in Mexico and a handful more in Guatemala, the Horned Guan is restricted to a tiny, fragmented range.

Guatemala 166

Guatemala Mexico San Diego South America 166

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 3, 2019

There are more than 50 regional endemics to choose from, and many birds are easier to see in Costa Rica than many other places because of access to habitat and/or lack of hunting pressure. Thanks to better protection from hunting, this fancy bird is tame and easy to see at many sites in Costa Rica. Buff-fronted Quail-Dove.

Costa Rica 203

Costa Rica Panama Birds Eagles 203

10,000 Birds

JUNE 3, 2015

But I have visited Guatemala, Lesotho and Zimbabwe to actually visit them and count them, even though I spent less time in them than I did Zurich. I slept in hotel in Zurich but didn’t leave the airport or even clear immigration, so I can’t really say I’ve been to Switzerland either. It’s arbitrary, but there you go.

Botswana 162

Botswana Birds Lesotho Elephants 162

10,000 Birds

JUNE 3, 2014

There is the flightless Atitlán Giant Grebe of Lake Atitlán, Guatemala, whose habitat was destroyed by a combination of human incursion and earthquake, but whose DNA lives on in hybrids that fly. And, they are fascinating. Laughing Owl, 1909, New Zealand, photo taken by Cuthbert and Oliver Parr, pp.

Animal 270

Animal Mammals Hawaii Dolphins 270

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 30, 2011

Here in New Zealand te only potential big tick would be a lost vagrant painted snipe, and we’ve already established that I don’t enjoy that kind of vagrant hunting. I’m fairly sure the only family I’m missing in Europe is the Wallcreeper (Tichodromadidae), assuming you don’t lump it with the nuthatches.

Family 164

Family Wombats Uganda Fiji 164

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 20, 2012

The believability of this is underscored by the fact that the Pilgrims and their guides listed among their possession numerous “fowling pieces” … for hunting wild birds. They may have also had hunting dogs with them as well.

Turkey 210

Turkey Columbus Spain Fowl 210

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 11, 2017

I had blown my chance, and now the bird was heading for Guatemala, or Costa Rica, at least some place very far away from where I was. I was sure it was gone, but, in the back of my head, my little voice said to keep going.

Costa Rica 100

Costa Rica Guatemala Bears Hunting 100