10,000 Birds

AUGUST 19, 2014

It is technically correct, and recently fashionable, to insist that any living animal is a member of the larger group that contains it phylogenetically, i.e., ancestrally, with that group often named after the known animal that roots the tree. So, for example, humans are apes. And smaller. And smaller. Until turkey size or so.

Camels 211

Camels Whales Whaling Apes 211

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 18, 2012

We know that the human mind has capacities that are not common in other animals. A number of research projects have sought to determine if some of these human brain abilities are found in other animals. It turns out, for example, that “Theory of Mind” is very rare in the animal kingdom. 1208724109.

Abandon 252

Abandon Abandoning Abandonment Research 252

10,000 Birds

APRIL 13, 2015

However very few birders ever venture to areas off this well-beaten track, so with this in mind, I decided to explore a fascinating but ornithologically little known corner of Ethiopia in January 2012, to see what surprises awaited me. A long bearded D’Brazza’s Monkey was gorging on figs along the Mago River. Mursi woman.

Ethiopia 253

Ethiopia Sudan Leopards Birds 253

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 14, 2012

Below is a selection of the endemic birds and mammals that can be encountered during a birding trip to Ethiopia, all photographs by Adam Riley during a January-February 2012 Rockjumper Birding Tours trip to Ethiopia. Despite sporting the largest canines in proportion to body size of any mammal, they actually feed mostly on grass blades.

Ethiopia 275

Ethiopia Eritrea Africa Mammals 275