10,000 Birds

AUGUST 3, 2021

There was a time when I thought each bird species had its own individual song. Then I found out that there was this vocalization called a ‘call,’ so I thought each bird species had its own individual song (but just the males) and individual call. Bird communication is a complex and evolving science.

North America 278

North America Research Birds Groups 278

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 6, 2012

Or, one of the 145 species of Glass frogs living in the Cental and South American rainforests, I could look through the transparent skin on their undersides and see their internal organs. All species of frogs and toads share the fact that they are amphibian creatures, they have two types of skin gland, four legs, and, well, they jump.

Reptiles 184

Reptiles Madagascar Family New York City 184

10,000 Birds

JULY 15, 2015

But it wasn’t founded to serve as a refuge for human refugees, but animal ones, specifically elephants. It is a good place for South African birders, as several species are found here and nowhere else in South Africa, and it holds a small number of endemics that it shares with the Mozambique lowlands.

South Africa 146

South Africa Elephants Africa Lions 146

4 The Love Of Animals

FEBRUARY 18, 2011

I recently got the chance to read the book, 100 Heartbeats: The Race to Save Earth’s Most Endangered Species , written by Jeff Corwin. In this book, Corwin shares what he has learned as he travels the world to see first hand the species that are endangered. He currently resides with his family on an island in Massachusetts.

Endangered Species 100

Endangered Species Rhinos Massachusetts Science 100

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 15, 2011

Artists rendition of Inkayacu paracasensis There are 17 living species of penguins, which make up their own Linnean family (Spheniscidae), which is the only family in the order Sphenisciformes. Penguins are flightless, but some species locomote over long distances on antarctic ice to travel between breeding grounds and the sea.

Penguins 191

Penguins Seals Peru Science 191

10,000 Birds

MARCH 18, 2011

A range of animals come to satisfy their need for salt or the soothing effects of the clay along the river banks of the region. The field site I am assigned to is located in one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world and home to a particularly rich avifauna that numbers well over 500 species. That’s right – birds eating clay.

Peru 255

Peru Parrots 2011 Research Center 255

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 12, 2024

The scientific species name of the Golden-throated Barbet is franklinii , commemorating Capt. The HBW section on this species’ behavior mostly repeats the phrase “more information needed” Though of course scientists, hungry for grants and topics, say that all the time. Ok, I made that up. Then, on to nuthatches.

Birds 174

Birds China Woodpeckers Breeding 174

10,000 Birds

JULY 25, 2022

Gisela Kaplan has written a book about the species, and how they seem unperturbed by humans: “It’s one of their most successful defense strategies. ” The Australasian Swamphen used to think of itself as a subspecies of the Purple Swamphen but then started a self-improvement program and ended up as a full species.

Birds 226

Birds Australia Ducks Mountain Goats 226

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 4, 2020

Her children’s books–which include the charming Mama Build a Little Nest , other picture books, and chapter books–evince an easy familiarity with birds, their science and birding ethics. It’s an excellent resource for family and child-learning adventures. © 2019 Jennifer Ward, © 2019 Alexander Vidal.

Los Angeles 264

Los Angeles 2019 Birds 2014 264

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 18, 2014

The vast majority of the 10,000+ living species of birds are passerines, and the vast majority of those have a similar system of breeding: Mom and dad bird make a nest and share parental responsibilities roughly equally, if not identically. There are variations on that theme, of course. Even the non-passerines often follow this pattern.

Breeders 199

Breeders Breeding Birds Groups 199

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 13, 2012

Nonetheless, I thought it might be interesting and informative to review a DVD put out by Crowe’s Nest Media , a family owned and operated company, which is how I found a copy of Your Backyard: A young beginner’s guide to identifying 18 common feeder birds by sight & sound in my mailbox earlier this week.

Science 175

Science Owls Pennsylvania United States 175

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 18, 2011

This has happened before, Archaeopteryx and the bird family tree have had an often tenuous relationship. But it is utterly bewildering to me to see news reports about this recent science that read “… An icon knocked from its perch&# or “Archaeopteryx no longer first bird.&# Flight is an example.

Mammals 247

Mammals Europe Groups Family 247

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 25, 2011

Unless you are nothing but the lowly diehard lister, for which you should feel much shame and embarrassment for, birders and biologists alike frequently want to understand birds on a deeper level than how to identify the age, sex and species of a certain individual. I believe in science. Science, for many years, has done no better.

Emotional 204

Emotional Science Birds Mammals 204

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 15, 2013

The single greatest challenge facing any book of science writing is balance. Otherwise, there would be no science writing, everyone would just go straight to the journals. That issue aside, though, this is a fascinating book which will engage not just birders, but most people who have any interest in nature or the science of the mind.

Humane 142

Humane Emotional Stray Dog Science 142

10,000 Birds

JULY 18, 2012

One strategy that varies among birds (and other animals) is the number of offspring. A few families have a small number of eggs in the clutches, like gulls or cormorants. One North American species I am very familiar with is the Cassin’s Auklet , which ranges from the end of the Aleutian Islands to California.

Eggs 164

Eggs Puffins Breeding Raised 164

10,000 Birds

MARCH 14, 2011

Hunting sandhill cranes in Kentucky is a bad idea from a public relations standpoint, considering the growing cadre of birders and nature enthusiasts for whom cranes are a touchstone species. Initiating a hunting season on a large, charismatic species like a crane is no way to resuscitate hunting.

2011 245

2011 Kentucky Tennessee Hunting 245

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 5, 2021

Dragonflies and Damselflies of Costa Rica: A Field Guide covers 113 damselfly species and 170 dragonfly species, a total of 283 species. Wait–that adds up to 290 species, but the book only covers 283. .* Wait–that adds up to 290 species, but the book only covers 283. Paulson, William A. INTRODUCTION.

Costa Rica 260

Costa Rica North America Family America 260

10,000 Birds

MARCH 20, 2011

It may be as sick as deliberately targeting an endangered species for death. Birders know that the light’s not always perfect or even particularly good when you’re trying to tell one species from another. Fourth Whooping Crane This Winter Shot Animal Rights vs Conservation in Cyprus Tennessee Crane Hunt Tabled for 2 Years!

2011 242

2011 Hunting Kentucky Hunters 242

10,000 Birds

MAY 19, 2011

Even if you don’t live in the summer range of a particular species, you may have opportunities to observe it while it passes through, especailly if you live in an active flyway, like I happen to. Itcher birds, migratory members of the tern family. The birds do the flying for you. Specifically, Itcher Tern. Image source.

Research 191

Research Humane Compassion New York 191

10,000 Birds

MARCH 2, 2023

Not a cover species The Black Kite is not actually black, but of course, misleading bird names are not exactly rare. No surprise then that the species is listed as Vulnerable. But then, sanity (or maybe respect for you, the reader) prevailed. Fortunately, they are quite common in Shanghai.

Birds 130

Birds Iraq China Ireland 130

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 29, 2024

The species name athertoni is derived from Lt. Unfortunately, there is not much literature on the species except for the inevitable analysis of the mitochondrial genome. As usual in China, there are some anonymous Leaf Warbler species – but who cares, apart from Bella of Alpinebirding ?

Squirrels 137

Squirrels Birds China Bears 137

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 16, 2013

I come from a large family: five sisters, two brothers and almost everyone has kids. Most of my family lives in Indiana, but thanks to social media we can easily keep in touch. They are all wonderful people and they are all animal lovers. But I’ve learned we love animals in very different ways.

Feral Cats 180

Feral Cats Feral Cats Family 180

10,000 Birds

APRIL 7, 2015

They are software mascots, cartoon characters, animated film dancers, children’s book heroes, zoo celebrities, and documentary film stars. Every section is excellent, Going from back to front, the Species Natural History section is where to go for answers to all your questions about penguins and then some.

Penguins 197

Penguins New Zealand South Africa Albatross 197

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 1, 2022

With an obvious hint of disapproval, the HBW remarks that for this species, the “nest [is] a small or bulky but always untidy pad” I suspect the author of these lines lives with teenage children and uses the description of the magpie-robin to vent some frustration with them. But it is all for science, I hear them say.

Birds 147

Birds China Eggs Breeding 147