10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 6, 2020

His first surmise seems like a good one – that the feathers are meant to hide the eggs from other female swallows seeking to parasitize the nest, by disrupting the parasite’s timing (if eggs are present, the parasite would know that the nesting mother is ready to incubate – that is, incubate not only her own eggs, but the parasite’s, as well).

Eggs 130

Eggs Emotional Bats 2014 130

10,000 Birds

JUNE 7, 2022

They mimic snakes, a claim to fame that goes all the way back to Aristotle’s History of Animals. The Wryneck is full of stunning photos of Wrynecks–anting, flying, nesting, writhing, being ringed, their habitat areas, nests, eggs, and closeups of museum specimens. copyright © 2022 Gerard Gorman.

Woodpeckers 232

Woodpeckers Hungary Thailand 2014 232

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 3, 2020

Penguins are cartoons, emoticons, animated films, children’s books (though owls really take first place here), sports teams, a book publisher, and a Batman villain (a rare example of penguin negativity, though Burgess Meredith did bring an endearing attitude to his 1960’s TV portrayal). Netherlands: Oliver Plantema, 2020.

Penguins 278

Penguins Georgia New Zealand Albatross 278

10,000 Birds

JULY 4, 2023

From Hiro, we learn how Northern Pygmy Owls are “rule breakers,” not incubating eggs till all are hatched and then raising owlets that mature at the same rate even though the eggs were laid asynchronously (as most owl eggs are). Jennifer Ackerman is one of my favorite bird authors.

Owls 209

Owls Science Barn Owls Penguins 209

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 3, 2023

Baby birds are cuteness personified, possibly even more so than other baby animals, including human babies, and pose interesting questions of survival and development. Harrison, and Nests, Eggs, and Nestlings of North American Birds, 2nd ed. Everyone loves baby birds; 10,000 Birds even had a Baby Bird Week once upon a time!

Wildlife Rehabilitation 255

Wildlife Rehabilitation Birds Family Collecting 255

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 3, 2021

She writes, “Broadly, I am interested in the evolutionary mechanisms underlying phenotypic variation and population divergence in animals, primarily birds.”

North America 278

North America Research Birds Groups 278