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A review of the birdcentric novel “Accidentals” (the title of which is in the plural for a reason)

10,000 Birds

In Gaines’ first novel Carbon Dreams (2001) the science (there, geology) tended to overwhelm the story, but in Accidentals, she incorporates ornithology and microbiology skillfully into a well-woven whole. In the marshes of the estancia , he discovers what he comes to believe is a new species of rail – one of the “accidentals” of the title.

Uruguay 152
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Into the Nest: A Book Review in the Time of Nesting

10,000 Birds

And of eggs and nests and birds on nests. Into the Nest , as the title says, is about the courting, mating, egg-laying, nesting, and parenting behavior of “familiar birds”. Some chapters focus on one species (Yellow Warbler), some on several related species (Chickadees and Nuthatches). And of birds courting and mating.

Eggs 263
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Exploring the relationship between flamingos and grebes: The wonderful birds

10,000 Birds

But in 2001, Marcel van Tuinen and his colleagues published a DNA study of waterbirds that proposed a then-shocking sister relationship between flamingos and grebes, two groups “which otherwise show no resemblance,” the authors wrote at the time. The diving, piscivorous grebes were usually grouped with loons.

2001 217
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15 Australian Birds (Episode 4)

10,000 Birds

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. When these birds breed, this can lead to highly cringeworthy announcements, for example from Adelaide Zoo : “We have egg-citing news!” This is what killed James Dean.

Birds 216
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Peterson Reference Guide to Sparrows of North America: A Review by a Sparrow Fan

10,000 Birds

I like observing them, reading about them, grappling with species and subspecies identification, and even—on a good day—talking about sparrow taxonomy. Peterson Reference Guide to Sparrows of North America covers 61 species of the New World sparrow family Passerellidae that breed in Canada, the United States, and northern Mexico.

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The Birds of Trinidad and Tobago: Two Guides, One Book Review

10,000 Birds

First published in 1973 in association with the Asa Wright Center, the book focuses on species descriptions, with illustrations grouped together in plates positioned in the center of the book. The guide covers 477 species, an expansion of 35 from the second edition, which was published in 1991. The AOU has not accepted that split.

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Collaborative list – December 2018

10,000 Birds

In reverse order, the medals were awarded for “most species seen in a country”, to Australia with 420, USA got the silver, scoring 556 while the runaway winner was Costa Rica with 646 species. Jamaica Bay, Big Egg Marsh. Jamaica Bay, Big Egg Marsh. Jamaica Bay, Big Egg Marsh. Jamaica Bay, Big Egg Marsh.

2018 113