10,000 Birds

JULY 4, 2023

Jennifer Ackerman points out in the introduction to What the Owl Knows: The New Science of the World’s Most Enigmatic Birds , that we don’t know much, but that very soon we may know a lot more. What the Owl Knows: The New Science of the World’s Most Enigmatic Birds is a joyous, fascinating read.

Owls 225

Owls Science Barn Owls Penguins 225

10,000 Birds

JULY 25, 2022

Gisela Kaplan has written a book about the species, and how they seem unperturbed by humans: “It’s one of their most successful defense strategies. It seems that quite a few zoos keep Tawny Frogmouths. If I was so inclined, I might think that they deserve to be killed by Pied Currawongs for their sinful behavior.

Birds 242

Birds Australia Ducks Mountain Goats 242

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

We have photographs and newspaper obituaries of Martha, the last living Passenger Pigeon, who died after a lifetime in captivity, mostly in the Cincinnati Zoo. We immediately get a sense of the pigeons’ abundance, beauty, and danger to human activity. We have a lot of source material. It’s an effective introduction.

2014 161

2014 Killing Michigan Kentucky 161

10,000 Birds

JUNE 26, 2018

Pink Pigeons were featured on episode four of the second season of The Zoo , the excellent television series about The Bronx Zoo,* and their story was disturbing. Meanwhile, on The Zoo, the keepers have been creating an environment for Thelma and Louise so they can nurture the hoped-for egg from The Stud and Serendipity.

Mauritius 102

Mauritius Stud Zoos Eggs 102

10,000 Birds

JULY 10, 2012

More than 150 bird species are known to have become extinct over the past 500 years, and many more are estimated to have been driven to extinction before they became known to science. An adult (left) and subadult (right) White-backed Vulture with full crops after feeding on the remains of a Lion kill, Ndutu, Tanzania by Adam Riley.

Endangered Species 200

Endangered Species Species South Africa Morocco 200

10,000 Birds

APRIL 7, 2015

None fly, most are curious and social, which probably contributes to our cultural perception of penguins as one step away from human. They are software mascots, cartoon characters, animated film dancers, children’s book heroes, zoo celebrities, and documentary film stars.

Penguins 209

Penguins New Zealand South Africa Albatross 209