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The Gas Station Bird

10,000 Birds

You can own a gorilla in Indiana, but not a bear in Michigan. No guarantees, but in this case the agency had already given the owner a warning and was responsive and willing to investigate complaints. One’s ability to own an exotic species varies from state to state. For instance, you can own a lion in Alabama, but not in California.

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Grasshopper Buffet

10,000 Birds

Most often encountered near to the village bearing the same name, this abundant grasshopper ultimately sprouts large wings and forms swarms which can decimate crops. Naturally, I had to investigate. The southern forests of the island of Trinidad are home to the much-maligned Moruga Grasshopper. Then a second, and a third.

Trinidad 147
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Lake Tahoe Bear Poached for Gall Bladder

Critter News

State wildlife officials are investigating a possible poaching case in which someone removed the gallbladder of a black bear -- which can sell for thousands of dollars in Asia -- after the animal was struck and killed this week by a car in the Lake Tahoe area. A surgical glove was discovered next to the bear's mutilated carcass. "It

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The Uncommon Demise of a Wood Thrush in Costa Rica

10,000 Birds

On the breeding grounds of the north, a small bird flies into the night, takes a bearing for the south, gains altitude and flies onward. The rails did indeed come to investigate but came up empty-beaked. Migrant birds make an incredibly perilous journey, twice per year. How’s that for an understatement of the obvious?

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What’s in a Name?

10,000 Birds

Call me old fashioned if you like, but I rather like many of these old names, as they put a bit of colour and interest into birding, especially if you bother to investigate who exactly the birds are named after. There are many who think that the whole idea is ridiculous, while others believe that it is long overdue.

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Birding Yancheng, Jiangsu

10,000 Birds

Even though I am pretty sure eyes like these cannot be real and have been taken from some oversized teddy bears. Ideally, however, you should either find somebody else to pay for these toys or at least convince your wife that these toys are not toys but highly useful. I recently watched an online advertisement for The Economist.

Birds 197
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For the Love of Trogons

10,000 Birds

Males of both species share the odd distinction of bearing the colors of the Mexican flag, with a green head, white chest band, and bright red breast. These species are visually very similar, with subtle differences in their tail patterns. Both are large, stocky birds, with a large head and long, squared-off tail.

Mexico 179