10,000 Birds

MARCH 3, 2020

Diversity of habitat means, of course, great biodiversity, and the Introduction boasts that Bolivia “is the richest landlocked nation on Earth for bird diversity, the sixth richest overall, and the fifth richest in the Americas” (p. This unfortunately happens with the large Tanager (Thraupidae) family here.

Bolivia 196

Bolivia Birds Brazil Switzerland 196

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 6, 2012

And, I started daydreaming about encountering something a little different, maybe a Horned Frog, Ceratophrys cornuta, a large, squat green and brown frog of South America, with a wide mouth large enough to eat other frogs as well as reptiles. If you don’t live near a science museum, then read this chapter.

Reptiles 198

Reptiles Madagascar Family New York City 198

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 1, 2022

I happen to be particularly fond of turtles because my family has taken care of a small box turtle for 30 years (beware–turtles are extremely low-maintenance pets but will outlast your child’s youth and probably your life). Or that tortoises and terrapins are considered part of the turtle family. Lovich and Whit Gibbons.

Turtles 230

Turtles Tortoises Family Terrapins 230

10,000 Birds

MARCH 18, 2011

Found throughout South America in ever-dwindling numbers these extremely beautiful birds – threatened by habitat destruction and collection for the wild bird trade – are often difficult to see and hard to find. Volunteers are one of the most important aspects to the project. Want to Go Bird Banding in Amazonian Peru?

Peru 255

Peru Parrots 2011 South America 255

10,000 Birds

JUNE 23, 2014

Proving that cruelty knows no bounds, some (language unsuitable for a family blog) in Virginia Beach is shooting blow darts at birds. Birding in Israel? Report your sightings to help build an eBird-like database of the country’s avifauna. Meanwhile, an Oregon farmer caught a beating from a neighbor irritated by his loud “bird cannons.” (Who

Science 215

Science Hawaii South America 215

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 20, 2014

The magnificent history and diversity of birds on Earth came into sharper focus this month with the publication of 28 new scientific papers in Science and other journals. ’s bird family tree in a new tab and follow along as you read. American Flamingo photo by Dick Culbert). In 2008, Nick Sly published a review of Hackett et al.

Family 279

Family Birds Parrots 2014 279

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 22, 2013

And now we enter into a family of birds more or less unknown to non-birders. And truth told, over the years they’ve been something of a square peg for ornithologists too, not fitting precisely into any of the known families of birds. I would never have believed it, but if the science says so who am I to argue otherwise?

Jordan 213

Jordan Guatemala Birds South America 213

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 13, 2011

Their taxonomic affinities have caused great confusion and debate amongst ornithologists; they were originally assigned to the thrush family, then Old World warblers before being shifted to babblers (the last mentioned a common dumping-ground for any aberrant passerines).

South Africa 247

South Africa Lesotho Africa Swaziland 247

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 25, 2011

crossing the Carribean and winding up in South America? And if you look into it enough, it presents a classic case where science can fail us. I believe in science. Science is based on logic and evidence, which I think is a very respectable way to look at the world. Science, for many years, has done no better.

Emotional 231

Emotional Science Birds Mammals 231

10,000 Birds

JUNE 5, 2018

Gulls of the World: A Photographic Field Guide is a successor, or companion, as the author terms it, to Klaus Malling Olsen’s classic guide, Gulls of Europe, Asia and North America (Helm, 2004*). Describing gull plumage is a combination of science, graphic art, and visual metaphor. Howell & Jon Dunn in Gulls of the Americas.

2004 175

2004 North America America Europe 175

10,000 Birds

JUNE 1, 2022

But Cardinals certainly do seem to be residents at Tres Cerritos, in spite of being well south of their official range; I have so far seen them there in seven different months of the year. And I found this one because he was singing his heart out quite persistently, which certainly suggests a bird that wants to settle down and raise a family.

Mexico 251

Mexico 2018 Ducks Breeding 251