10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 5, 2015

The Andean Flamingo ( Phoenicopterus andinus ) is one of the three flamingos occurring in the high Andes of South America. Egg harvesting to sell as food was intensive then, with thousands taken annually from the breeding colonies in Chile. Andean Flamingoes and Chilean Flamingo (far right) (Photo: Ron Knight – Flickr).

Chile 155

Chile Endangered Species Eggs Argentina 155

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 25, 2013

While the native apple snail continued declining, another species of apple snail native to South America began to appear in canals and ponds in South Florida. The baseball-sized “Island apple snail”, as this exotic snail is known, spreaded through South Florida. Snail Kites now favor these ponds and breed around them.

Florida 230

Florida South America Eggs Bolivia 230

10,000 Birds

MARCH 10, 2011

The vast majority of Baltimore Orioles that breed in North America return to the tropics between Mexico and northern South America for the cold half of the year. Wicked, right? Not a minute later, I’d scooped up my kid and sprinted back into the house for my binoculars and camera. Hat-tip to Stella.

North Carolina 140

North Carolina 2011 St. Louis Baltimore 140