10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 7, 2011

Invercargill The bottom of New Zealand and you’d be forgiven for thinking the end of the world is where you’ll be heading if you’re following Argentina, Scotland, Romania or Georgia. A good place to see the enigmatic Kokako. Image by Dunedin NZ, Creative Commons.

New Zealand 157

New Zealand Penguins Sanctuary Birds 157

10,000 Birds

APRIL 30, 2011

Each year 120,000 birds visit the island to breed from March through August in burrows that riddle the landscape. After mating, a single egg is laid and incubation duties are shared by both parents. The shearwaters make good subjects for homing experiments. The gulls are able to use the sounds to locate their stumbling prey.

United Kingdom 160

United Kingdom Brazil Eggs Abandon 160

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 15, 2012

It was a heart-pounding scene straight out of Jurassic Park, an odd experience for a laid-back pursuit like birding. Red Junglefowl by Mike Bergin Clare Kines chose an egg as his Best Bird of the Year. Secretive, silent and undetectable outside of its breeding season, found only in the U.S. I wrote about the experience here.

2012 147

2012 Birds Guatemala Florida 147