10,000 Birds

APRIL 7, 2020

It didn’t occur to me till I started reading The Falcon Thief: A True Tale of Adventure, Treachery, and the Hunt for the Perfect Bird that there was also a possible threat to the eagle herself: poachers, who steal raptor eggs and chicks. McWilliam realizes he’s dealing someone special, a career falcon egg-thief.

Falcons 200

Falcons United Kingdom Zimbabwe Eggs 200

10,000 Birds

JULY 4, 2023

Ackerman’s new book is about owls and owl research–the knowledge recently and currently being discovered through DNA analysis, new-tech tracking and monitoring, and old-fashioned fieldwork under the auspices of organizations like the Global Owl Project and the Owl Research Institute.

Owls 200

Owls Science Barn Owls Penguins 200

10,000 Birds

MARCH 31, 2014

For decades researchers have made annual trips out to the Tortugas to catch Sooty Terns, attach tiny silver bands to their legs with unique identification numbers, and then set them free again. The park is home to not one, not two, but large three colonies of breeding seabirds: the Brown Noddy , Magnificent Frigatebird , and Sooty Tern.

Birds 174

Birds Florida Groups Breeding 174

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 6, 2012

Or, Pygmy leaf-folding frogs, Afrixalus brachycnemis, from Tanzania, tiny climbing frogs who lay their eggs in leaves and then fold the leaves over them for protection, sealing the nest with secretions. There’s the Goliath frog from South Africa—up to one foot in length and over 6 pounds in weight.

Reptiles 182

Reptiles Madagascar Family New York City 182

10,000 Birds

JULY 22, 2014

The majority of wildcats live today in Africa, and virtually none of them have provided the DNA from which supposed histories of domestication have been constructed by researchers. And I think he was speaking only of our American Kitties not the Wildcat of Africa. But they don’t live in North America. Unless we put them there.

Feral Cats 252

Feral Cats North America Feral Cats 252

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 13, 2013

The Desolation Islands are more than 2,000 miles from the nearest permanent human habitation (besides research stations) and can only be reached by a long ship journey. Saint Helena Island, situated in the south Atlantic ocean between the continents of Africa and South America, is one of the remotest inhabited islands in the world.

Birds 198

Birds South Africa South America Feral Cats 198

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 3, 2020

Each chapter focuses on a specific geographic area of penguin population: (1) Antarctica, (2) South Georgia, (3) Falkland Islands, (4) South Africa and Tristan de Cunha, (5) New Zealand and Australia, (6) South America and Galapagos. But, unlike most books focused on a bird family, this one is organized geographically. Press, 2011).

Penguins 277

Penguins Georgia New Zealand Albatross 277

10,000 Birds

MARCH 19, 2011

In southern Africa, there are two species. The Spotted Thick-knee , Burhinus capensis is, is found across much of Africa, favouring open country and is perfectly suited to the dry sandy ground of the cape region, where this individual would almost certainly have been overlooked were it not for its bright yellow legs, eyes and bill.

2011 160

2011 Deer Africa Peru 160

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 17, 2022

Hluhluwe–Imfolozi Park is the oldest proclaimed nature reserve in Africa – it was established in 1895. I guess most scientists would love to see their original research become the basis for a vast field of further studies. She also laid eggs in Melba Finch nests. The quality is similar though (on a highly abstract level).

South Africa 179

South Africa Africa Birds Cape Verde 179

10,000 Birds

JUNE 2, 2018

But the beats go on in Southern climes and our intrepid little-big-year beat, Tom enters Africa. No peace for the blessed (Are you all as impressed as I am that Tom is in Africa and still finding time to review photos, share checklists and write blog posts?). Jamaica Bay, Big Egg Marsh. Jamaica Bay, Big Egg Marsh.

2018 100

2018 Australia Los Angeles Albatross 100

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 22, 2014

It has the repetitive single note call that birders familiar with Africa would associate with a tinkerbird. I can’t help wondering if the conspicuousness of the bird I saw was an attempt to draw attention to itself to distract the Grey Warbler while the other laid her eggs. Looking around. Facing me with a wing stretch.

New Zealand 170

New Zealand Solomon Islands Sanctuary Vanuatu 170

10,000 Birds

JULY 7, 2018

Honduras , Malaysia and the southern-most bits of South Africa feature large this month with Mike, Duncan and Tom all vying to be MVB for June. Jamaica Bay, Big Egg Marsh. Hopland Research and Extension Center (restricted access). Jamaica Bay, Big Egg Marsh. Hopland Research and Extension Center (restricted access).

2018 100

2018 Australia Woodpeckers Los Angeles 100

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 1, 2016

Duncan has been in Africa, sweeping all before him like a brush fire. Contributions this month have come from; Costa Rica, USA, Australia, Mexico, Serbia, South Africa, UK, Botswana, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia and Iran. International Birding and Research Center Eilat (IBRCE). South Africa. 04 Aug 2016. 26 Mar 2016.

2016 154

2016 Sanctuary Australia Ghana 154

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 8, 2022

Given the complexity of the research, the result feels like a bit of a letdown – “northern populations start migration earlier than southern populations, especially in autumn” The species name of the Chestnut-eared Bunting is fucata , from the Latin “fucare”, to paint red. Better safe than sorry.

Birds 197

Birds Eggs Bangladesh China 197