10,000 Birds

JANUARY 7, 2014

We sing about them, we paint them, we use them as mythic and poetic symbols for our spiritual and emotional feelings, we wear them in myriad and often colorful ways, we adopt them as household pets. We worship birds, we hunt birds, we protect birds, and, yes, we eat birds. But, this is not a reference book in the classic sense.

Birds 224

Birds Egypt Family Eagles 224

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 7, 2012

Today an adult bird was hunting while two juvenile birds waited, knee-deep in water, apparently unclear what to do next. The adult bird had had some success and stopped hunting in favour of a dip. Using the ubiquitous Great Egret as a reference, the Goliath Heron is half a meter taller (from bill-tip to toe) and four times as heavy.

Hunting 188

Hunting Battery Raised Adoptable 188

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 11, 2012

Originally a hunting term, the Big Five were the most dangerous and prized targets of the great white hunters on safari. However it is now one of the world’s rarest animals after decades of relentless hunting and poaching. The Black Rhino was also a widespread African denizen occurring throughout the continent, even into desert areas.

Buffalo 213

Buffalo Rhinoceros Elephants Leopards 213

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 20, 2012

Long before that time Mexican domesticated Turkeys had been adopted by Native Americans in the American Southwest as well. During the very late 15th century and early 16th century, there are about five or so references to one Spanish explorer or another finding a “Turkey” and maybe or maybe not bringing it back to Europe.

Turkey 210

Turkey Columbus Spain Fowl 210

10,000 Birds

MARCH 15, 2012

The first was Lewis Binford, who noted, correctly, that if you look at actual animal bones from actual archaeological sites, you could not objectively see clear evidence that would distinguish hunting from scavenging, and if you compared these “food remains” to hyena food remains, they looked roughly the same.

Humane 165

Humane Lions Buffalo Hunting 165

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 3, 2015

Each account gives population estimate, population trend, estimated area, endemism level, reasons why the species is threatened, and conservation measures adopted and proposed. In addition to habitat loss, extreme weather, invasive species, hunting, and the illegal capture of birds for pet markets are major contributing factors.

Cuba 238

Cuba Birds United States 2000 238