10,000 Birds

JANUARY 14, 2021

This time we travel to Africa, or to narrow it further, to the Afrotropical region (since the north of the continent avifaunally belongs to the Palearctic). Geographic patterns of species richness for birds (1,558 species) in East Africa at 0.25° resolution (blue indicates low species richness, while brown indicates high species richness).

Africa 205

Africa Kenya Uganda Tanzania 205

Animal Ethics

JUNE 7, 2016

In light of this horrible incident, is it right for the zoo to carry on a breeding program that subjects more animals to such unnatural lives? It is estimated that due to conflicts with humans, the bushmeat and body parts trade, disease and habitat destruction, large mammals in Africa may be extinct by the end of this century.

Los Angeles 40

Los Angeles Gorillas Zoos Non Human 40

10,000 Birds

JULY 21, 2022

Wikipedia also has an interesting paragraph hinting at observation bias in ornithologists: “At the continental scale, saddle-billed storks preferred protected areas that have a higher extent of open water compared to areas without the storks. Ostrich Eggshell Beads Reveal 50,000-Year-old Social Network Across Africa.

Ostriches 147

Ostriches Parrots Birds Eggs 147

10,000 Birds

APRIL 15, 2015

I was in contact with a group of birders for whom I arranged and guided an annual tour to Africa. We already had South Africa, Zambia and Uganda under our belts, but my clients’ request for the next year came right out of the blue: Ghana! Africa’s only rainforest canopy walkway in Kakum National Park.

Ghana 195

Ghana Hunters Guinea Gambia 195