10,000 Birds

JUNE 25, 2018

There are many species that captivate those looking at them: Burrowing Owls , Barn Owls , a variety of fishing-owls, Stygian Owl , Elf Owl , the list goes on and on. We here at 10,000 Birds have no shame and it was either this or lots of posts about woodcocks, boobies, and woodpeckers. Well, except maybe you.

Owls 155

Owls Barn Owls Woodpeckers Bahamas 155

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 9, 2018

Some animals are injured and killed by wildfires. While larger animals like deer and elk are usually able to escape the fire’s path, smaller animals like squirrels, foxes and snakes are not always so lucky. Forest Service research biologist Vicki Saab studies, birds evolved alongside fire and flee in the face of conflagrations.

Wildlife 102

Wildlife Sacramento Shelters Science 102

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 22, 2018

In the e-era now, print magazines are going the way of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker. Fun fact: only three species in the lower 48 states are not protected by that statute – the House Sparrow, Rock Pigeon, and Common Starling.). It’s what the book calls “street photography of the wild side,” as opposed to mere bird eye candy.

Birds 121

Birds Minnesota Protest Protesting 121

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 10, 2016

Late last month, while searching for bears , woodpeckers and spirits of Greece, I deliberately avoided checking any news, especially from my home country. We are facing a plague of poaching that is again decimating the species. A different research says, from 2002 to 2011 the known populations of forest elephants declined by 62%.

Elephants 184

Elephants Botswana Zimbabwe Africa 184

10,000 Birds

MAY 4, 2017

The first edition, A Neotropical Companion: An Introduction to the Animals, Plants, and Ecosystems of the New World Tropics , was published in 1989. It was my first trip to the Neotropics, and I had no idea what I was getting into. That sentence really doesn’t begin to describe this very smart and highly readable book.

South America 150

South America Ecuador Reptiles America 150

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 24, 2018

Most of the time, I know enough about an area, or have done some research into what is found there, that I am pleasantly surprised at best. Nearly 30,000 of these acres is set aside as dry wilderness habitat for other birds, animals and other various living creatures. Right in our camp, we found Ladder-backed Woodpeckers.

New Mexico 113

New Mexico Mexico Tucson Arizona 113

10,000 Birds

MARCH 18, 2011

UNLESS that is you get yourself down to the internationally-renowned Tambopata Research Centre in southern Peru where literally hundreds of macaws (and other parrots) congregate around a 50 meter high clay bank. 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.

Peru 255

Peru Parrots 2011 Research Center 255

10,000 Birds

JUNE 7, 2022

The Eurasian Wryneck is the woodpecker that doesn’t look like a woodpecker, the bird with the portmanteau name that is also a medical condition (and which may remind some people of a Nora Ephron essay). But they are woodpeckers: the genus Jynx of the subfamily Jynginae of the Picidae family.

Woodpeckers 232

Woodpeckers Hungary Thailand 2014 232

10,000 Birds

APRIL 13, 2024

I was high and happy, not from “420” drugs but from the altitude and the anticipation of seeing woodpeckers and owls I had never seen before. Soon Steller’s Jay , both Downy and Hairy Woodpecker , Mountain Chickadee , Pygmy Nuthatch and White-breasted Nuthatch were everywhere. And now I did. Chuffed to bits!

Denver 165

Denver Colorado Ducks Mules 165

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 14, 2023

Sometimes I just want to hug eBird, or more specifically, whoever writes the short species descriptions (even though I am not the typical hugging kind of person, trust me on this). There are about 50 different species of flowerpeckers globally. If these are taken off, the species looks just like Clark Kent. “Dull, me?

Los Angeles 184

Los Angeles Birds Woodpeckers Owls 184

10,000 Birds

MAY 11, 2021

There was only modest discussion of the significance of the stability of animal names (a universal goal in zoological nomenclature ) or the potential impact of suddenly having multiple names for dozens of birds. Under these circumstances, changing the name of the eponymous woodpecker would likely have an infinitesimal impact.

Birds 264

Birds Russia Hawaii Woodpeckers 264

10,000 Birds

MARCH 6, 2023

Shockingly, the Ashy-throated Parrotbill apparently is a species heavily hunted for bird fighting in Guizhou Province, China ( source ). Shame on the researchers. The other is to mention that the name commemorates Edward Blyth (1810-1873), who published the first description of the species.

Eggs 167

Eggs China Birds Mammals 167

10,000 Birds

APRIL 12, 2017

The biosphere is known for its many substrate of ecological plant and animal life, depending on the elevation. This just happens to be the exact combination that provides for many species of birds, including the exceptional Acorn Woodpeckers , Melanerpes formicivorus, subspecies M. angustifrons.

Woodpeckers 100

Woodpeckers Camels Mexico Turkey 100

10,000 Birds

MARCH 15, 2011

While studying, he also worked on various conservation/research projects (parrots, wagtails, vultures, and anything else that flew) and ringed thousands of birds. Dawn Fine Mar 15th, 2011 at 3:50 pm NO Comment YourBirdOasis.com Mar 15th, 2011 at 10:07 pm Yeah, polygynandry is really weird…what other species have this breeding system?

2011 209

2011 Breeders Breeding Deer 209

10,000 Birds

MARCH 14, 2011

For my new book, due out in 2012 from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, I’ve been researching sandhill crane hunting. 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.

2011 245

2011 Kentucky Tennessee Hunting 245

10,000 Birds

MARCH 20, 2023

Anyway, in case you are still reading, the main attraction at this hide is Lady Amherst’s Pheasant, which perversely is not featured in this post (it is treated in a separate one, thus grudgingly acknowledging the almost disgusting flamboyance of that species). This species tends to use plenty of hair gel to get the perfect wet look.

Birds 147

Birds Mammals St. Louis Monkeys 147

10,000 Birds

MARCH 1, 2011

Now this, might not sound like anything of particular ground-breaking significance, but in the context of animal personality research, it is a fairly big thing. While studying, he also worked on various conservation/research projects (parrots, wagtails, vultures, and anything else that flew) and ringed thousands of birds.

Cats 148

Cats 2011 Costa Rica Deer 148

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 17, 2022

I guess most scientists would love to see their original research become the basis for a vast field of further studies. A study has shown that they make false alarm calls when seeing other species such as meerkats with attractive food. No doubt the woodpecker has similar considerations. Colonial history reflected in bird names.

South Africa 184

South Africa Africa Birds Cape Verde 184

10,000 Birds

APRIL 7, 2015

Last month woodpeckers, this month penguins. They are software mascots, cartoon characters, animated film dancers, children’s book heroes, zoo celebrities, and documentary film stars. The introductory Penguin Who’s Who introduces each species visually. Some are cute, some are dignified (and royal!).

Penguins 197

Penguins New Zealand South Africa Albatross 197