10,000 Birds

JANUARY 15, 2013

” The Wels Catfish, Silurus glanis , is the second largest fish in its range, which covers much of Europe and parts of West Asia. Now and then individual catfish of various species hunt nearer the surface and larger catfish such as the American Channel Cat will take a duck or other water bird. Cucherousset, J., Boulêtreau, S.,

Fish 207

Fish Birds Whales Whaling 207

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 21, 2014

The prinias are a group of around 25 Old World warbler species found in Africa and Asia. On the contrary, it may very well be one of the most dangerous bird species in Asia, if not the world. This species, as small and as brown as it may be, does not seem quite as harmless as its looks suggest. So, move over Cassowary.

Burma 161

Burma Laos Birds Indonesia 161

10,000 Birds

JULY 18, 2013

You may not realize it when you look at those bizarre looking waders with the massive bills and the vacant expression, but you’re looking at a group of birds that has inspired humankind for literal centuries. The group has a worldwide distribution; 28 species living and two additional extinct.

Birds 218

Birds North America Charlotte New Jersey 218

10,000 Birds

MAY 8, 2012

Like the Adjutants in Asia and Jabiru of the Americas, the Marabou is our bare-headed scavenging stork. Only slightly shorter, but more elegantly built than the Marabou, the Saddle-billed also has a sister species in Asia, the Black-necked Stork. It is also related to Wood Stork of the Americas and Milky Stork of Asia.

Africa 243

Africa Tanzania South Africa Uganda 243

10,000 Birds

JULY 20, 2014

European Red Foxes were brought into Australia in the 1850′s for recreational hunting and soon spread rapidly. We have seen them on remote beaches hunting shorebirds and taking their eggs and they have been responsible for much of the egg loss in breeding Pied Oystercatchers along the Broome coast. Rock Doves in Broome.

Australia 157

Australia Species Feral Cats Feral 157

10,000 Birds

MAY 8, 2013

We’ll take these two similar, yet very different groups of birds separately. In parts of southern Asia the population has plummeted 90% or more, necessitating action from local governments, which thankfully came in the not to distant past. Vulture Hunts Down and Ravages Sea Turtles – Dale Forbes, 10,000 Birds.

California Condor 186

California Condor Turkey North America Jordan 186

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 2, 2014

Kinabalu (at 13,455 feet the highest peak in southeast Asia), and human development that has resulted in freshwater rice fields, secondary forest, and oil palm plantations, this means that Borneo offers an incredibly high degree of biodiversity. Borneo, the authors say, is under-birded. I think we need to do something about that.

Brunei 177

Brunei Birds Asia China 177

10,000 Birds

JULY 4, 2023

Johnson’s work on cultural folklore is an important element in “Half-Bird, Half-Spirit: Owls and the Human Imagination,” the chapter examining how we, humans as a group, have looked at owls as symbols of both darkness and light. They are also hunted. In some ways, this is a puzzling chapter.

Owls 219

Owls Science Barn Owls Penguins 219

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 14, 2012

The wonderful family Meropidae contains 27 dazzling species, of which Africa is endowed with no less than 20 species, the balance occurring across Asia and with one as far afield as Australia. After breeding they also disperse over the rainforests and savannas of West and Central Africa, where they hunt for aerial insects.

Africa 265

Africa South Africa Gabon Uganda 265

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 27, 2013

Oriental Pied Hornbills are common enough and probably the most likely hornbill to be seen in many parts of SE Asia, but seeing them at such close quarters and seemingly so relaxed is unusual. Oriental Pied Hornbills by Redgannet. Though Clare K. no longer regularly blogs here on 10,000 Birds he shared his Best Bird of the Year anyway!

2013 167

2013 Birds Costa Rica India 167

10,000 Birds

MARCH 14, 2012

Patience will get you good looks, and there is something very special about seeing a representative of a group so strongly associated with the almost mythic New Guinea. Their name comes from their odd catlike call, but they more closely resemble one of the larger green barbets of Asia.

Possums 172

Possums Guinea Marsupials Rats 172

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 18, 2012

The lake was filled with families of Dusky Moorhens and Purple Swamphens (or Pukeko as we call them in New Zealand), all tending small groups of black chicks. The grassy areas were also patrolled by Laughing Kookaburras , which engaged in the typical watch and wait hunting methods of the kingfisher family, and the engaging Willie Wagtail.

New Zealand 172

New Zealand Ducks Australia Japan 172

10,000 Birds

APRIL 2, 2014

When you read trip reports of birders going to remote and interesting locations to see interesting (and not so interesting birds, I’m looking at you LBJs), these accounts are typically written by people who have either gone with groups of like-minded people or those that have gone it alone. The entrance to hell has a walkway.

Birds 187

Birds Bats Elephants Family 187

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 30, 2023

The Chestnut-winged Babbler is known as one of the host species of the Asian Drongo-cuckoo in Southeast Asia ( source ), a claim to fame that most bird species would probably prefer to avoid. The Blue-throated Bee-eater is much smaller than its relative, and easier to see as it likes to hunt from open wires rather than inside the forest.

Woodpeckers 217

Woodpeckers Birds Eggs India 217

10,000 Birds

APRIL 10, 2012

Barbets are a group of medium sized, chunky, generally colorful, frugivorous, hole-nesting near-passerines, that are popular targets for anyone birding in the tropics. In Asia, their 30 barbet species are placed into their own family Megalaimidae , and finally in Africa, we have 42 species in the family Lybiidae , the topic of this blogpost.

Ethiopia 237

Ethiopia Tanzania Africa Uganda 237

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 7, 2017

Hunting: You may have noticed that the Written Species Accounts include a section on hunting. I am a city girl and until I became a birder my contact with hunting was limited to occasionally seeing dead deer on the tops of cars in upstate New York. So–not a fan of hunting. I was really taken aback when I saw this.

Ducks 122

Ducks North America Geese Hunters 122